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The Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 leaving Ludington last November. MCP photo.
LUDINGTON — The investigation into the death of a maintenance worker following an industrial accident on a docked tugboat, March 2, has been turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
Mark Allen died at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital following the accident on the articulated tug/barge Undaunted/Pere Marquette 41 while it was docked at the Rieth-Riley Construction dock. Emergency personnel from Ludington Police Department, Ludington Fire Department, and Life EMS were dispatched to the dock at 11:27 a.m. A press release from Ludington Police Department stated the accident was caused after “a third-party vendor” was performing maintenance on the tugboat’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system when the system unexpectedly discharged.
Allen was not an employee of Interlake Logistics Solutions, which owns the vessel, but rather a third-party vendor.
The investigation was turned over to the coast guard and OSHA, said Capt. Michael Haveman of the Ludington Police Department. “We are not releasing further information at this time for the privacy of the family,” said Haveman.
Allen was the husband of Traverse City Deputy Manager Deb Allen, according to 9&10 News.
The tug/barge has been laid up for the winter and is expected to begin service soon.
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