NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
May 26, 2000

NTSB BOARD MEETING WILL EXAMINE 1998 MISSISSIPPI RIVER ACCIDENT INVOLVING CASINO VESSEL AND TOWED BARGES ON MAY 31

The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public Board meeting on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 at 9:30 am. The Board meeting will be held in the NTSB's new Board Room/Conference Center located at 429 L'Enfant Plaza Centre, S.W., Washington, DC.

On April 4 1998, a tow of the M/V Anne Holly was traveling northbound on the Mississippi River through St. Louis Harbor when it struck the Missouri-side pier of the center span of Eads Bridge. Eight barges broke away from the tow. Three of the barges struck the President Casino on the Admiral, a permanently moored vessel, causing eight of its ten mooring lines to break. The Anne Holly and the single mooring wire that remained attached to the Admiral's stern anchor held the Admiral near the Missouri bank. No deaths resulted from the accident, 16 of the 50 persons examined for minor injuries went to the hospital for additional treatment. Total damages were estimated at $11 million.
Media Contact: Terry N. Williams (202) 314-6100

Directions to the new Board room are below:

The street entrance is located on Lower 10th Street just below the L'Enfant Plaza Promenade running between D Street and Frontage Road, S. W. It is right next to the public garage entrance. From the L'Enfant Plaza Metro: Take the 9th & D exit, walk through shopping plaza towards CVS and take escalator down to lower level. The Board room will be to the left.