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Street Bridge News

24 Mar 2023

San Francisco Area Storms Wreak Havoc on Marine Navigation

(Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Recent storms that crossed the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this week left multiple vessels, docks, and barges adrift, causing navigational safety issues around the areaThree 60-foot deck barges were adrift, causing an allision with the 3rd Street Bridge at McCovey Cove leading to Mission Creek. U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco's Prevention Department was made aware of the situation and broadcasted a Notice to Mariners, noting that the area was closed to navigation. A finalized assessment of the bridge is pending the completion of an inspection by engineers.

04 Jan 2019

Update: Coast Guard Responds to Tug and Barge Accident on the Ohio River

Photo: USCG

The Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Towing Company, the responsible party, are continuing their response to a tug and barge accident on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, Wednesday.The water at the McAlpine Dam rose approximately three feet over the course of the past 24 hours causing one additional barge to sink. Nine barges are currently lying on the dam just above the falls. Seven of the nine barges sank.The Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and the responsible party are working together to evaluate the ever-changing situation each day.

28 Dec 2018

Coast Guard Reopens Ohio River for Restricted Movements

McAlpine Lock and Dam. (USCG Image)

The Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Towing Company, the responsible party, are continuing their response to a tug and barge accident on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky, Thursday.The Coast Guard reopened the Ohio River to all vessel traffic from Twelve Mile Island to McAlpine Lock and Dam.Traffic movement is currently only permitted during daylight hours and with an assist vessel, which is available pre-stationed at McAlpine Lock and Dam.Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley received a report at approximately 8:10 p.m.…

26 Dec 2018

Ohio River Closed Near Louisville after Barge Breakaway

© IcemanJ / Adobe Stock

A section of the Ohio River near Louisville, Ky. has been closed to all vessel traffic after 15 loaded coal barges broke away from a towing vessel that made contact with a bridge in the area.The U.S. Coast Guard said its watchstanders at Sector Ohio Valley received a report at approximately 8:10 p.m., Tuesday, that the towing vessel Debbie Graham, made contact with the 2nd Street Bridge, causing the 15 coal barges that it was pushing to break free. The cause of the incident is…

16 Sep 2016

United Nations East River Security Zones Scheduled

Photo: USCG

U.S. Coast Guard crewmembers are scheduled to enforce security zones on the East River near the United Nations Headquarters beginning Friday. The security zones scheduled to begin Sept. 16, and continue until Sept. 25, 2016, include all waters of the East River between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge. Zone (1): This zone is always in effect. No Vessels within 175 yards of Manhattan between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge in the West Channel of the East River.

15 Sep 2014

CAGTC Members Win Big in TIGER VI

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced Friday that 72 projects will receive a total of $600 million from the sixth round of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. Of these, 12 Coalition for America’s Gateway and Trade Corridor (CAGTC) member projects were awarded a total of $135 million for projects with full costs exceeding $490 million. One in three grant dollars, just over $198 million, was awarded to 25 projects supporting freight movement. Compared to previous rounds, this represents a decrease in the amount of money and total awards given to freight relative to other types of projects.

10 Apr 2014

USCG Responds to Sailing Vessel Allision

Coast Guard Station Mayport crewmembers responded to a report of a sailing vessel that allided with the Main Street Bridge Thursday in Jacksonville, Fla., in the St. Johns River. Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville command center were notified of the incident at approximately 12:06 p.m. Station Mayport crewmembers were launched to respond at approximately 12:20 p.m. Jacksonville Fire Rescue crews were also on scene and helped tow the sailing vessel, Celer, to the boat landing at the River City Brewing Co. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission crews were also on scene. The two mariners aboard the Celer did not report any injuries.

24 Jan 2014

USCG to Establish Security Zone for State of the Union Address

The Coast Guard will establish a temporary security zone Tuesday in designated waters in the National Capital Region for the State of the Union address. The security zone will be in effect from 4 p.m. Tuesday until 2 a.m. Wednesday, which may limit or prohibit navigation by commercial and recreational waterway users. The security zone will include the Potomac River from the Francis Scott Key Bridge, south to approximately two miles north of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The security zone will also include the Georgetown Channel Tidal Basin as well as the Anacostia River from the 11th Street Bridge to its confluence with the Potomac River. Entering or operating in the security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the captain of the port of Baltimore.

23 Sep 2013

East River Closes for United Nations General Assembly

The Coast Guard will enforce security zones on the East River during the United Nations General Assembly, periodically restricting vessel traffic in the upper harbor near the United Nations Headquarters, New York, starting at 7 a.m. Monday. The Coast Guard will be enforcing security zones, from Sept. 21-29, on the East River between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge. Zone 1: This zone is always in effect. No Vessels within 175 yards of Manhattan between East 35th Street and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge in the West Channel of the East River.

22 Apr 2013

Illinois River in Flood: Dam Struck by Barges

A Unified Command of U.S. Coast Guard & the Ingram Barge Company say the Marseilles Dam is structurally sound after 7 barges broke loose nearby. On Friday night the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, providing technical assistance to the Unified Command, completed an evaluation of the dam and determined it to be structurally sound. The Main Street Bridge in Marseilles, located about 400 feet downstream of the dam, was reopened Saturday at 10:45 a.m. after flood waters began to recede and the access road to the bridge was cleared. Salvage of the barges is delayed by the continuing high flood waters and heavy river currents. “Once the river waters recede and a timeframe is established, we will notify the public and maritime interests of upcoming salvage operations,” said Cmdr.

10 Apr 2013

Moran Shipping's Capt. Steve Palmer Recognized

Award Ceremony: Photo credit USCG

Captain Steve Palmer, Vice-President Moran Shipping Agencies, receives USCG's Meritorious Public Service award. Making the presentation on behalf of the Commandant, Rear Admiral D. "The Commandant takes great pleasure in presenting the U. S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to Captain Steve Palmer, Vice president and Quality Manager for Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. for meritorious public service to the Coast Guard from November 1998 to April 2013. As a highly…

16 Jul 2012

WAVcam + Command Bridge Kept Eye on Baltimore Harbor 'Sailabration'

The electronic pairing offered safety and security personnel an unprecedented view of a 25+ square mile area of the harbor from north of Ft McHenry, west to the Hanover Street Bridge and southeast past the Francis Scott Key Bridge. With blue force tracking and the ability to correlate the video, AIS and radar tracks, first responders could see every boat in the harbor and knew its bearing and distance from the nearest fire boat or rescue vessel. "ISA is proud to have provided WAVcam's visual situation awareness technology for the Maritime Law Enforcement Information Network during Maryland's Star-Spangled Sailabration. We were honored by the invitation to work with The Mariner Group and add WAVcam's unique wide-area…

13 Jan 2011

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History – January 13

1853- The ship Cornelius Grinnell grounded in a heavy surf off Squan Beach New Jersey. A surf car was used to rescue all 234 persons on board. 1925- Alaskan Game Law enforced by Coast Guard. 1918-Surfmen from the Humboldt Bay Lifesaving Station rescued the 430-man crew of the Navy cruiser USS Milwaukee after the cruiser ran aground. 1982- Air Florida Flight 90 crashed onto the 14th Street Bridge and then into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., during a heavy snow storm. Coast Guard units, including the cutters Capstan and Madrona, divers from the Atlantic Strike Team, a helicopter from AIRSTA Elizabeth City, personnel from Curtis Bay, and reservists from Station Washington, assisted in the rescue of the five surviving passengers and the recovery of the aircraft's wreckage.

16 Mar 2010

USCG Investigates Bridge Allision on Potomac

Photo courtesy USCG

The Coast Guard is investigating an allision caused by flood conditions between an 80-ft construction barge and the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C, around March 15. A 25-ft Response Boat-Small crew from Coast Guard Station Washington, D.C., along with boatcrews from D.C., Police Department and D.C., Fire Department were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the Coast Guard conducted an initial assessment and found no apparent significant damage to the bridge or the barge. The Coast Guard is working with the barge owners in an effort to remove the barge.

12 Jan 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – Jan. 13

1853- The ship Cornelius Grinnell grounded in a heavy surf off Squan Beach New Jersey. A surf car was used to rescue all 234 persons on board. 1925- Alaskan Game Law enforced by Coast Guard. 1918-Surfmen from the Humboldt Bay Lifesaving Station rescued the 430-man crew of the Navy cruiser USS Milwaukee after the cruiser ran aground. 1982- Air Florida Flight 90 crashed onto the 14th Street Bridge and then into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., during a heavy snow storm. Coast Guard units, including the cutters Capstan and Madrona, divers from the Atlantic Strike Team, a helicopter from AIRSTA Elizabeth City, personnel from Curtis Bay, and reservists from Station Washington, assisted in the rescue of the five surviving passengers and the recovery of the aircraft's wreckage.

09 Dec 2008

CG Restricts Hylebos Waterway Traffic

The Coast Guard Captain of the Port for Seattle has ordered the immediate closure, until further notice, of the Hylebos Waterway in Tacoma, Wash., to all large, oceangoing vessels and restrictions through this waterway for tug, barge and all other boating traffic. The Coast Guard was notified that an abandoned and partially sunken barge named BMC-33 has drifted about 80 feet from shore into the 200 foot wide Hylebos Waterway channel. The barge severely narrows the channel and creates a collision hazard to vessel traffic. The temporary restricted area, known as a safety zone, is from the East 11th Street Bridge to the Hylebos Boat Haven/Lower Turning Basin. All large, oceangoing vessels 300 gross tons or greater are restricted from transiting through this safety zone.

11 Jan 2008

Coast Guard Responds to Drifting Barges

The Coast Guard responded to an incident on the Mississippi River that resulted in approximately 45 barges breaking free of their moorings in the vicinity of the Osage fleeting area approximately 1 mile south of the Popular Street Bridge. The Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River Command Center received a call from the manager at Osage Marine informing the Coast Guard of the multiple barge break away. The Coast Guard immediately broadcasted a notice to mariners of the situation and requested towboats in the area to assist. The Coast Guard values the assistance provided by the towboats in the area during the recovery operation. All barges were reported secured.

05 Apr 2004

Anyone Want to Restore a Tugboat?

You'd think it would be easy to start a tugboat museum. First, get an old tugboat. Clean-up some rust with a pad of coarse steel wool, slap-on a coat of paint, and presto, you're ready to sit in the booth and sell tickets. Everyone would applaud your efforts because, first, everyone loves tugboats and all they represent - solid construction and earnest purpose, hard work and benevolent contributions to civilization. And second, because old tugboats, all spiffied-up, are handsome sights, an alluring environmental decoration wherever they're found. And third, because the design of tugboats, like most of society's tools, has undergone great change, and the old ones are dying-off fast. You'd think everyone would support your labors at preserving a noble cultural heritage.

12 May 2006

House Bill to Block LNG Tankers From R.I. Waters

The House of Representatives on May 10 joined a growing list of official bodies erecting hurdles in front of a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal in Fall River, Mass. The House unanimously approved legislation that would, in effect, block LNG tankers from sailing through Rhode Island waters to get to the terminal. Sponsored by Rep. Raymond E. Gallison Jr., D-Bristol, the bill would prevent any tanker from coming within 1,000 yards of any residences, piers, docks, wharves or waterfront facilities. A tanker sailing to Fall River would have to pass within 600 yards of Fort Wetherill in Jamestown, 700 yards of Fort Adams, 400 yards of Sandy Point lighthouse on Prudence Island, 700 yards of the Prudence Island ferry dock and 500 yards of Arnold's Point in Portsmouth.

07 Apr 2006

Weaver's Cove Offers Plan for LNG Shipments

Weaver's Cove Energy plans to use liquefied natural gas transports that are even smaller than the second set of vessels it specified in recent updates to its proposal to operate an LNG plant on the Taunton River and newer, stronger tug boats to guide them, the company said. According to South Coast Today, more LNG tankers, however, will sail to Fall River under the change because of the lower capacity of the vessels and because tankers once earmarked to go to a proposed Providence terminal denied by federal regulators will instead head to Weaver's Cove. The changes also require more openings of the new Brightman Street Bridge, the company said.

07 Apr 2006

Hess LNG, USCG Analyze Use of Smaller Tankers

Hess LNG has agreed to give the U.S. Coast Guard more information on its plan to use smaller than anticipated tankers to deliver liquefied natural gas to its proposed Taunton River import terminal. In mid-March, the Coast Guard sent Hess LNG a letter detailing its concerns and seeking more information about the company’s plan to maneuver tankers 725 feet long and 82 feet wide under two Brightman Street bridges; the old bridge has a 98-foot-wide opening for boats. Hess LNG said the company will provide the Coast Guard with additional information and analysis including simulated modeling, information about tugs that would help maneuver the tankers…

24 Jan 2006

Tugboat Sinks at Duwamish River

A 101-foot tugboat sank at its moorage off the mouth of the Duwamish River and nearly dragged down a second tug, the AP reported. The cause of the sinking of the tug island Brave was unknown. More than 20,000 gallons of diesel fuel in the tugboat's tanks leaked before company divers sealed the fuel tanks. The amount that escaped was undetermined but appeared to be small and was contained by booms. Someone driving over the Spokane Street Bridge notified the company about 11 a.m. on January 22 that the Island Brave and Patricia S, to which it was tied, were listing north of the bridge and east of Terminal 5. The Island Brave sank beneath the surface about 1:15 p.m. A large crane on a barge was brought to the scene in time to pull upward on the sinking tug so the Patricia S could be cut free.

24 Sep 1999

Jefferson Street Bridge Struck by Barge

Tug Thruston B. Morton, pushing 15 barges, allided with the Jefferson Street Bridge in Joliet, Ill., causing the bridge to be damaged enough it will have to be kept in the open position until repaired. Representatives of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) have reported to the USCG the vessel struck the right descending main support column on the northwest corner of the structure. The allision resulted in the forward starboard barge being struck under the opened bridge's catwalk. The vessel's crew intentionally ballasted-down this barge, allowing it to be pulled from under the catwalk (a standard procedure in a case of this nature). The tug and barges resumed its down-bound transit.