GWR disruption (17-May-23) - unconventional bridge strike...

[4COR]

I note a travel update from GWR advising of disruption due to a bridge strike. However, the bridge struck, I presume, is the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar, and was struck by a boat... Don't ever recall seeing anything similar before, presumably not overheight in this case!

https://twitter.com/GWRHelp/status/1658829474715123716?t=yVgXbRup88tKRH81nFX-rA&s=19

✅ Travel Update - 17/05 ✅



Following a boat colliding with a bridge between Plymouth and Saltash, all lines have now reopened.



Disruption is expected until 17:00 17/05.



Train services between London Paddington and Penzance via Plymouth are returning to normal.

 

[800001]

I note a travel update from GWR advising of disruption due to a bridge strike. However, the bridge struck, I presume, is the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar, and was struck by a boat... Don't ever recall seeing anything similar before, presumably not overheight in this case!

https://twitter.com/GWRHelp/status/1658829474715123716?t=yVgXbRup88tKRH81nFX-rA&s=19

At approximately 0800 this morning a 300 Ton Tug boat struck the center pillar on the Cornish side of The Royal Albert Rail bridge causing significant damage to the pillar. This wasn’t reported until around midday.

Line was blocked at its classes as a RED bridge, bridge was examined by a qualified assessor who gave the line back at line speed.

 

[DelW]

I note a travel update from GWR advising of disruption due to a bridge strike. However, the bridge struck, I presume, is the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar, and was struck by a boat... Don't ever recall seeing anything similar before, presumably not overheight in this case!

https://twitter.com/GWRHelp/status/1658829474715123716?t=yVgXbRup88tKRH81nFX-rA&s=19

Well, the Severn Bridge was finished off by a ship strike, so it's (sadly) not unknown. That didn't end well for ship or bridge.

 

[Ploughman]

Goole Swing bridge has had the odd side swipe from passing waterborne traffic.
Sometimes putting it out of action for months.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Railway bridges over canals often have the generic "Contact the Rail Authority" plaque but with the wording altered to say "In the event of any waterborne vehicle striking this bridge...". Not sure how much damage a narrowboat travelling at 3mph is going to do to a Victorian railway bridge but there you go.

 

[4COR]

Railway bridges over canals often have the generic "Contact the Rail Authority" plaque but with the wording altered to say "In the event of any waterborne vehicle striking this bridge...". Not sure how much damage a narrowboat travelling at 3mph is going to do to a Victorian railway bridge but there you go.

I would imagine less damage than a 300 tonne tug, but then it's likely to be a little less well built than the Royal Albert Bridge (though clearly there's more to it than that).

Interesting it took so long to report - I'm not up on maritime law - does anyone know if there is anything applicable here that might result in a tea, no biscuits, interview for the captain/pilot?

Edit for clarity.

 

[Benjwri]

Interesting it took so long to report - I'm not up on maritime law - does anyone know if there is anything applicable here that might result in a tea, no biscuits, interview for the captain/pilot?

It’s a legal requirement to report the incident to the Marine Accident Investigation Board, and the harbourmaster, but only ‘as soon as practicably possible’.

Regardless there will most definitely be a tea no biscuits interview with the MAIB, licensing authority and is they have one their employer. Obviously depends why the incident occurred, but baring some unknown circumstance, they will likely lose their job and license. I’m not sure if the technicalities of a waterborne bridge strike, but if it is the same as vehicular accident they, or their company, would be liable for the cost of the damages and also the train delays.

 

[Ediswan]

Very little to go on. Could have been mechanical failure.

Being pedantic, it is the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (of the Department for Transport).

 

[4COR]

It’s a legal requirement to report the incident to the Marine Accident Investigation Board, and the harbourmaster, but only ‘as soon as practicably possible’.

Which one might expect involves use of the onboard radio which might not take ~4 hours to do so (though clearly not a lot to go on), unless there was some other failure in comms...

Thanks for info!

 

[HaxbyTraveller]

First I read in the newspapers about the rails going on strike, then I heard on the BBC that trains were on strike. Now there is even a bridge strike! Sorry - couldn't resist.

 

[800001]

I would imagine less than a 300 tonne tug, but then it's likely to be a little less well built than the Royal Albert Bridge (though clearly there's more to it than that).

Interesting it took so long to report - I'm not up on maritime law - does anyone know if there is anything applicable here that might result in a tea, no biscuits, interview for the captain/pilot?

A 300 tonne tug is what was reported through the official channels!

 

[4COR]

A 300 tonne tug is what was reported through the official channels!

I meant a narrow boat at 3mph doing less damage than a 300 tonne tug - didn't doubt the report!

 

[swt_passenger]

A 300 tonne tug is what was reported through the official channels!

Will this be MOD contractor Serco? It would be quite rare for anyone else’s tugs to be operating that far up the river/harbour.

Railway bridges over canals often have the generic "Contact the Rail Authority" plaque but with the wording altered to say "In the event of any waterborne vehicle striking this bridge...". Not sure how much damage a narrowboat travelling at 3mph is going to do to a Victorian railway bridge but there you go.

Applied on every possible bridge IIRC, even when to get near the abutments or bridge span the boat would have to get onto the towpath first, or up the opposite bank.

 

[northernbelle]

There are a number of larger harbour tugs based at Devonport in the 300 ton region - they can often be seen passing under the bridge taking barges to and from Ernesettle Jetty next to the Gunnislake line.

In the event the damage appeared to be superficial, with just some seaweed missing/scuff marks on the masonry. I'm not sure how the vessel fared though!

 

[Spartacus]

Bridge strikes do come in many weird and wonderful forms, I've even had one where it was struck by a train, on the back of a low loader!

 

[DelW]

A 300 tonne tug is what was reported through the official channels!

If the tug had been keeping to "official channels", the collision wouldn't have happened

(Coat on, heading for the door)

 

[800001]

Applied on every possible bridge IIRC, even when to get near the abutments or bridge span the boat would have to get onto the towpath first, or up the opposite bank.



Will this be MOD contractor Serco? It would be quite rare for anyone else’s tugs to be operating that far up the river/harbour.

I don’t understand what you are meaning in your reply to my post?
I stated it was a 300 tonne tug, what does that have to do with your reply?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 May 2023 ==

If the tug had been keeping to "official channels", the collision wouldn't have happened

(Coat on, heading for the door)

I’ll give you that one! Made me chuckle

 

[swt_passenger]

I don’t understand what you are meaning in your reply to my post?
I stated it was a 300 tonne tug, what does that have to do with your reply?

I think my post including two points was wrongly edited, I’ve fixed the order.

I was just thinking as it was likely to be a MOD tug, that they would be fairly familiar with the area.

 

[MotCO]

Was it an over-height tug?

I presume that the tug could have been caught in some unexpected currents, but an experienced captain should be aware of these.

 

[800001]

I think my post including two points was wrongly edited, I’ve fixed the order.

I was just thinking as it was likely to be a MOD tug, that they would be fairly familiar with the area.

Ah fair enough, thanks for clarifying.

 

[Furrysquid]

Will this be MOD contractor Serco? It would be quite rare for anyone else’s tugs to be operating that far up the river/harbour.



Applied on every possible bridge IIRC, even when to get near the abutments or bridge span the boat would have to get onto the towpath first, or up the opposite bank.

I've managed to hit a bridge with a boat I had on the towpath at the time ...

 

[tonyianmoore@g]

Bridge strikes do come in many weird and wonderful forms, I've even had one where it was struck by a train, on the back of a low loader!

I remember being delayed just south of Saunderson when the bridge over the A4010 was struck by a hot air balloon

 

[Purple Train]

The only time I've ever seen a bridge strike was when someone punched it. The masonry in particular got excessively violent.