Catamaran rigging vs bridge

[sailcruiser]

http://www.sxmislandtime.com/compone...-accident.html


PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - In photo is a view of the catamaran named the Mouse as it passes through the Sandy Ground water way Thursday.

The catamaran encountered difficulty with its rigging which got caught in sections of the boom bridge as it passed through the inlet.

The incident is being investigated by the Gendarmes.


Ouch.
SC

[Zanshin]

That is painful, but that is the French bridge, which is much smaller and narrower than the Dutch bridge and "Muse" is a big Catana. Now I'm really going to be nervous the next time I enter the lagoon in anything bigger than my dinghy!

[Southern Star]

Isn't that a Dolphin 460, rather than a Catana? Not that it makes any difference, what a shame!

Brad

[sailcruiser]

From social media:



Copyright Gromyko Wilson





Copyright Yvan Marajo

Does anyone know how big this boat is? I saw a 70' charter by the name Muse.

http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/...ches-in-bridge

"MARIGOT, St.Martin -- A large cruising catamaran named Muse broke its mast in two when its rigging caught in the Sandy Ground bridge as it was exiting Simpson Bay Lagoon on Thursday evening.
Early indications are that a loose line from the mast's rigging drifted out unexpectedly, perhaps blown by the wind, and caught on the bridge apparatus between one hydraulic arm and an underneath drawbridge crosspiece, causing the mast to break under the load as it motored through the bridge opening. The mast did not fall to the deck, but the top section rested on the crosspiece.

The incident occurred at the 5:30pm opening and created a long tailback of traffic on both sides of the bridge. However, most drivers turned around to take alternative routes once they learned out what had happened.

The Territorial Police and Gendarmerie were on hand to control a large crowd that gathered on both sides of the bridge to watch the spectacle as the drawbridge was stuck in the upright position.

Firemen were the first to respond, but considerable time passed as discussion on how to resolve the situation took place. In the end consultation with Geminga boatyard resulted in the use of a Manitou front-loader, the type with an extended boom used at marlin fishing tournaments, to reach the top section of the mast.

French-side sea rescue's Jean-Claude van Rymenant, who was present on the scene, reported the top section of the mast had been lifted from the crosspiece and the tangled rigging cut away, then brought down on the drawbridge as it was lowered, preventing it from falling into the water or causing damage to the catamaran deck.

The operation was completed at around 9:15pm and traffic allowed to cross. Harbourmaster Régine Hee said it appeared the bridge itself had not been damaged and should resume normal operation, but added she would not know for certain until the morning. The priority was to let the traffic cross.

No details from the catamaran crew on what they thought had happened as they passed through the bridge could be obtained last night. The vessel was able to manoeuvre away from the channel with its engines once the mast's top section had been removed."

[sailcruiser]

And the update:

http://news.caribseek.com/index.php/...dent-at-bridge

Incoming Vessel Cause Of Accident At Bridge
The Daily Herald
Sunday, Apr 7th, 2013 04:02 UTC | Comment Article
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MARIGOT St,Martin -- An incoming small yacht without a mast that ignored the red light and ventured closer to the bridge when it should have stayed out of the channel was the main cause of Thursday evening's accident at Sandy Ground Bridge, Dock Master Régine Hée explained on Friday.
The apparent intention of the incoming vessel to approach or go through the bridge was enough to cause panic with an outgoing catamaran's skipper, who had right of way to exit Simpson Bay Lagoon. A combination of lack of experience in dealing with the situation and a strong current in the channel triggered a chain of disastrous events, she suggested.While the incoming vessel was immediately ordered to turn around by the bridge operator, the catamaran took evasive action, but collided with the wall on the left side of the bridge. The impact destabilised the mast and standing rigging on one side and broke a stanchion. The catamaran then veered off to the other side and, with its mast already leaning, the rigging got ensnared in the drawbridge structure, finally causing the mast to break in the mid-section. The catamaran crew filed a complaint with the Gendarmerie, which has opened an investigation into the accident. The catamaran's owner faces cost in the five- to six-figure range to replace mast, rigging and other damage, but it is not known if insurance will cover the damage.Régine Hée thanked personnel from Geminga Boatyard, the Fire Brigade and other persons who assisted in freeing the broken mast in an operation that took about four hours before the bridge could be lowered again. She particularly thanked the Gendarmerie, who had the foresight to divert traffic at the tourism office roundabout and at the Agrément roundabout.


Does the other skipper have any liability here?
SC

[Zanshin]

There can be nasty swell and there are shallow rocks around the entrance from Marigot bay into the bridge channel and if there is a boat at the fuel docks then one has no maneuvering room at all - so perhaps the small boat entered and found itself unable to return. But the last update does make it seem as if the catamaran skipper is not fully responsible. Since the small boat is unnamed and there are several mastless sailboats around they might not be able to locate the culprit, but I hope that they do!

p.s. I saw the swords and immediately thought "Catana", I'm not so good with cats, sorry.

[Kettlewell]

You would think a cat with twin engines would be able to handle that sort of situation, though the strong current certainly didn't help.

[Zanshin]

The current can be really strong there despite the very small tides; but I wonder if a catamaran has prop walk? I've seen huge megayachts bounce off the sides of the other bridge when a gust of wind moved them and the current caught them and they take big chunks of concrete with them. (just remembered, here's a link to some pics of the 208ft Candyscape II not quite making it through the bridge Winter 2011-2012 Blog and Diary 2012-02-24)

[neilpride]

The culprit is a old Benetau Oceanis, he have name, and is in Geminga 2 days ago waiting for their mast , because he drop mast there to do repairs, he try to entrance the lagoon with red light in the bridge, Gendarmes contact with the owner of the boat and are aware of the location, the top section of the cata mast is here to in Geminga.

[boatman61]

LOLOL.... If that's the same Regine who used to be Harbor master at Port Royale and Bridge controller French side I'da loved to have been there... the Gallic would have turned the air blue...

[Zanshin]

neilpride - thank you very much for the information, now we won't speculate as much about who it was. I am sorry for both boats that the accident happened. Must have been quite a show from the pictures and I bet that Shrimpy's was busy with their front-row seat next to the action!