United State Court Of Appeal For The Sixth Circuit News

On September 6, 1992, the M/V H. Lee (White) approached the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge on the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River. The M/V White is a 700 ft. cargo freighter that is 78 ft. wide and has a 13,000 lb. port-bow anchor. On that particular day, the M/V White was carrying 67 million lbs. of iron ore. The Grosse Ill Toll Bridge (the bridge) is a privately owned toll bridge over the Detroit River. The bridge opens for vessel traffic with a pivot system. It has a 305 ft. swing span in the center of the bridge that pivots open allowing for the passage of vessels. Bracketing the swing section are two 180 ft. fixed spans that allow for a 125 ft. draw once the swing span is open. Therefore, the bridge allows for little margin of error for a ship such as the M/V White which is 78 ft.