International Maritime Organization Articulated Tug Barge connection: relatively new, industry changing methods of hydraulically 'pinning' a tug into the notch of a barge.
When there are (unplanned) disconnections they are being hidden, kept secret and not shared. It's like drug lawsuits that come up keep drug companies honest for faults. And allow the public to at least look for symptoms and issues.
We don't even know what to look for because everything's being kept a secret. Manufacturers don't want any 'bad info' leaking out about possible defects or operator errors with their equipment. Would be bad for sales!
And to make clear. (I love acronyms). Transporte Canada is the USCG equivalent north of the border.
I am not under any illusion that Canada doesn't have jurisdiction with this incident. Just that lying just below the surface are several pertinent issues that are being glossed over, massaged and BS'd to death by Industry and the CG.
And I goofed. The tonnage of the NES is 116gt gross tons, Approximately 250 T ton and 302 ITC International tonnage calculation. Go figure. You can figure out which tonnage number the us requires to operate it.