Translated from the Brasilian - maybe not the best place to have built a bridge
'The sad scenes of the ship-Veleiro Cisne Branco (U 20) colliding with the pedestrian bridge over the Guayas River was not the first
accident that occurred at this location.
According to an Ecuadorian website, "Since 2017, at least three accidents with boats have been recorded on this bridge, the first ended with the collapse of a span of 145 meters."
It is not yet possible to determine the causes of the
accident, which is already under investigation by the Ecuadorian
Navy, meanwhile, the NVe Cisne Branco will be moored to the yacht club wharf, so that a technical
inspection of the
hull can be carried out to make sure that there was not no damage that compromises its
navigation, besides the damaged
mast, as can be seen in the highlighted
photo. Subsequently, the Brazilian Navy will assess the possibility of its return to Rio de Janeiro by its own means.
The accident with the tug that capsized during the maneuver after the
collision must also be investigated. Due to this second accident, it was necessary to install containment barriers to prevent contamination of the river. Ecuadorian
Marine Corps divers will help with the ship's refloating
work.
We are rooting for the short return of the NVe Cisne Branco and its crew to
Brazil so that it can be repaired in time to represent our country during “Velas Latinoamérica 2022”. Fortunately, there were no casualties on the ships involved in this regrettable accident.