Tanker hits bridge

[Pelagic]

One of the scariest events in my boating career was in 1997, when an oil tanker (Japan Erica) hit the Second Narrows railway bridge in heavy fog.

You can see photos in last part of this blog
Caboose Coffee: Oil Tankers and Rail Bridges

I ended up being first on scene taking Vancouver Harbor Master and Marine Police to bridge in zero visibility that night.

Groping with radar alone, we could see nothing as I worked the pilot boat around the bridge.
Must have got under the fallen span and could still see nothing when a railway tie fell right beside us…
We got the hell out of there real quick!

Was a very expensive pilot error that almost cost me my life

[2manyboats]

As an architect, maybe I'm just too sensitive. Once I got sued by a guy who fell off a building I designed three years after the building was complete. Fortunately for him it was a one story and not five. Very difficult to keep a straight face in court...

[SV Maclas]

I had no idea the second narrows railway bridge had been hit before. We used to keep a Cal 25 under there but that was in 2003. Crazy!

[John A]

Here's another boat vs bridge thing.

r

[John A]

sorry it appears to not work

[FlyingCloud1937]

Originally Posted by David M

This kind of reasoning is exactly how insane court cases are won. A sharp attorney really could argue that it is the bridges fault and win.

I go half way to Alaska every year up the inside straights.

At least 3-4 times a year we hear, an urgent call to CG...are you in trouble?

No our engine died and we are being blown onshore.

Have you dropped an anchor?

No were not planning on spending the night, can you help!!

Lloyd

[delmarrey]

Well, at least it didn't run aground and start spilling it's contents.
I'll take a bent up bridge over an oil spill any day.

[nigel1]

Ship hits bridge - YouTube

They did find the bridge at fault for this one.

[Blue Stocking]

Originally Posted by 2manyboats

Drifted for 5 minutes and no one had the presence of mind to toss out an anchor? they must have been mesmerized by the architectural beauty of the bridge. Clearly the architect's fault...

---or get the damn bridge out of the way. They are ALWAYS in a sailors way

[Kettlewell]

Update. The bridge will be closed two to four weeks. Hope the insurance bill was paid up.

[Cheechako]

That bridge could be off location by gps. Dont blame the tanker!

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

That bridge could be off location by gps. Dont blame the tanker!

They may have been using Apple Maps

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

[Blame the bridge] would be the liberal point of view.

Mmmm, no. The tanker was merely exercising it's right to unrestrained motion, and the bridge is but one more example of the artificial restrictions imposed by big government.

Glen Beck will no doubt be leading the call to remove bridges.

[Juniper]

This bridge is slated to be removed in 2 years in 2015.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Mmmm, no. The tanker was merely exercising it's right to unrestrained motion, and the bridge is but one more example of the artificial restrictions imposed by big government.

Glen Beck will no doubt be leading the call to remove bridges.

Yeah, but.... you know that the tanker captain doesnt have "free will" anyway dont you? He has no influence on anything that happens....