Marine Accident Brief: Contact of Crane Barge Mr Ervin, Pushed by Towing Vessel Kristin Alexis, with Sunshine Bridge, October 12, 2018
On October 12, 2018, about 0141 local time, the towing vessel Kristin Alexis was transiting with the crane barge Mr Ervin upbound on the Lower Mississippi River near St. James, Louisiana, when the crane struck the deck of the Sunshine Bridge while passing under the west channel span. No pollution or injuries to the six crewmembers on board the Kristin Alexis were reported. The bridge was completely closed to vehicular traffic for 49 days while repairs were made, which resulted in significant traffic impacts. Damage to the bridge was $6.7 million, while crane damage was estimated at $8,500. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the Mr Ervin crane barge striking the Sunshine Bridge was the inadequate voyage planning and watch turnover between the captain and pilot, resulting in the pilot transiting beneath the bridge’s west span instead of its channel span. Contributing to the accident was the lack of company oversight. Also contributing to the accident was the charted information for the bridge used by the pilot, which did not reflect the actual vertical clearance of the west span.
- Record URL:
- Summary URL:
-
Corporate Authors:
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC United States - Publication Date: 2020-7-16
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
- Pagination: 20p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Barges; Bridges; Clearances (Navigation); Cranes; Crash causes; Crash investigation; Towboats; Water transportation crashes
- Geographic Terms: Louisiana; Mississippi River
- Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01747772
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: NTSB/MAB-20/29, Accident ID: DCA19FM003
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Aug 17 2020 9:32AM