1972 Sidney Lanier Bridge collapse

Ship collision in Brunswick, Georgia, US August 2024 August 2024 1972 Sidney Lanier Bridge collapse Sidney Lanier Bridge collapse.png View of the collapsed sections, facing north yes 1972 11 07 9:50 p.m. EST Sidney Lanier Bridge, Brunswick, Georgia, United States 31 6 59 N 81 29 10 W type:event_region:US-GA_source:enwiki inline,title Bridge collapse due to a bridge strike Ship collision 10 11 Repairs to the bridge took six months and cost $1.3 million (equivalent to $US 1.3 1972 1 million in US) On November 7, 1972, at 9:50 p.m. EST, three sections of the Sidney Lanier Bridge across the Brunswick River in Brunswick, Georgia, United States, collapsed after a cargo ship, the SS African Neptune, struck the bridge. The collapse affected roughly 450 ft m of the bridge and caused 24 people and ten motor vehicles to fall into the river. Ten people died and eleven others sustained injuries. The Sidney Lanier Bridge was a vertical-lift bridge which was notorious among seamen for being difficult to navigate, due in part to its small opening. On the night of November 7, 1972, as the African Neptune was leaving the Port of Brunswick, it failed to properly align with the opening and impacted the bridge roughly 250 ft m -1 south of the vertical-lift section. Later investigations by the United States Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the misalignment had been caused by the helmsman, who had incorrectly entered in rudder directions given by the pilot. The helmsman's mistakes were noticed by a mate aboard the ship, but not before the vessel had reached a point on the river where a full stop was impossible. Following the impact, the ship's crew deployed lifebuoys and rescue ships, and emergency responders from around the area began search and rescue efforts that continued into the next day. In total, the bridge was closed for repairs for six months, at a cost of $1.3 million (equivalent to $US 1.3 1972 1 million in US). Following the incident, safety measures were put in place to prevent automobiles from being present on the bridge any time the vertical-lift span was open. In 1987, another cargo ship struck the bridge, resulting in several million dollars of damages, but no injuries or fatalities. Following this second incident, the Coast Guard declared the bridge a navigational hazard. In 2003, it was replaced by a cable-stayed bridge that features improved bridge protection systems. Background Sidney Lanier Bridge Sidney Lanier Bridge thumb|The Sidney Lanier Bridge was a vertical-lift bridge that spanned the Brunswick River in Georgia.Condon 2024Horton 2014 The Sidney Lanier Bridge was a 1 mi km on long,Hobbs 2018United Press International 1972a 93 four-lane automobile bridge that spanned the Brunswick River,Condon 2024 a tidal river, in Brunswick, Georgia.Associated Press 1972 49Sczcurek 1974 187 Construction on the bridge was completed in 1956.Pittman 2012Hobbs 2018 Situated roughly 1.5 mi km on south of downtown Brunswick,Associated Press 1972 49 it carried U.S. Route 17,Pittman 2012Hobbs 2018 a major north–south thoroughfare for both the eastern portion of Glynn County and the East Coast of the United States at large.United Press International 1972a 93Davis 2024 While the main portion of the bridge stood only about 50 ft m to 80 ft m on above the surface of the river,Pittman 2012Davis 2024 it featured a vertical-lift section to allow for larger oceangoing ships to access the Port of Brunswick.Condon 2024Horton 2014 The bridge had a reputation among seamen for being difficult to traverse,Horton 2014 as its 250 ft m -1 on opening meant that large ships with wide turning radii had to begin aligning themselves with the passageway well in advance of reaching the bridge.Sczcurek 1974 187 A 2012 article in The Brunswick News described the bridge's passageway as being "small" and "dangerous" for large ships to pass through.Pittman 2012 SS African Neptune The SS African Neptune was a cargo ship owned by the Farrell Lines company of New York City.United Press International 1972b 66 The ship measured approximately 350 ft m on longAssociated Press 1972 49 and weighed roughly 11,000 short tons.Hobbs 2018United Press International 1972a 93United Press International 1972b 66 At around 11 p.m. EST on November 6, 1972, the ship arrived at the opening of the channel leading to the port, but because of the bridge's reputation, Frank Stanejko, the sea captain of the African Neptune, decided to wait until the next morning to begin the 15 mi km on on journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the docks.Horton 2014 The ship collected its cargo, resin bound for Kenya,Horton 2014 at the State Docks on Oglethorpe Bay, a small tidal river that combined with the Turtle River to form the Brunswick River approximately 400 yd m -2 upstream of the bridge.Sczcurek 1974 187 Collapse thumb|left|Illustration prepared by the National Transportation Safety Board showing the approximate path of the shipSczcurek 1974 188 Due to heavy rain,Horton 2014 the ship was not cleared to leave the port until 9:36 p.m. on November 7,Sczcurek 1974 187 a Tuesday night,Hobbs 2018 during a period of high tide.Associated Press 1972 49 In the wheelhouse were two pilots and the shipmaster.Sczcurek 1974 187 The more senior of the two pilots was responsible for maneuvering the ship from the time of its undocking until after it had passed through the bridge.Sczcurek 1974 187 A tugboat assisted the African Neptune out of the dock,United Press International 1972a 93 after which it maneuvered under its own power out of the port area and around several barges that were moored in the river.Sczcurek 1974 187 At around 9:43 p.m., the helmsman received orders to turn the ship's rudder "LEFT, 10°" in order to begin aligning the ship with the bridge opening.Sczcurek 1974 187 Shortly after these orders were given,Sczcurek 1974 187 Captain Stanejko relieved the ship's helmsman of duty and replaced him with another able seaman.Horton 2014 According to a later report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the United States Coast Guard, Captain Stanejko relieved the initial helmsman of duty because he felt that the way the helmsman was responding to orders from the pilot was unsatisfactory.Horton 2014 Henry Billitz, a crewmember who was aboard the African Neptune that night, later stated that the initial helmsman was drunk while on duty.Horton 2014 At around 9:44 p.m., the pilot again ordered the rudder to be turned "LEFT, 10°".Sczcurek 1974 188 At about 9:46 p.m., the ship had reached a point of no return where it was now completely committed to passing through the bridge opening.Sczcurek 1974 188 At this point, the pilot ordered the engines set to "FULL AHEAD" and ordered the rudder to be turned to "LEFT, 20°".Sczcurek 1974 188Horton 2014 Shortly after the orders for "LEFT, 20°" were given, a mate analyzed the rudder angle indicator and saw that the rudder was actually positioned at 10° to the right and was drifting further towards the right bank of the Brunswick River.Sczcurek 1974 188 The mate notified the helmsman, who began to turn the wheel to the left.Sczcurek 1974 188 At about 9:47 p.m., the senior pilot noticed that the rudder angle indicator was now showing a reading of 20° to the right, prompting him to order the helmsman to turn the rudder "HARD LEFT" and change the engines to "FULL ASTERN".Sczcurek 1974 188 After these new orders were relayed to the helmsman, the indicator began to increase to the right, towards about 25°.Sczcurek 1974 188 Around this time, orders were given to drop the starboard anchor, though about 105 fathom m -1 of line length went out before the anchor caught.Sczcurek 1974 188 At 9:48 p.m., the pilot ordered "HARD RIGHT", by which time the ship had slowed to about 1 to 2 kn m/s.Sczcurek 1974 188 At the time that the vertical lift span had been lifted, there were 24 people on the bridge.Sczcurek 1974 189 As these people began to notice the ship approach the bridge, several began to flee,Hobbs 2018 with at least three making it off the bridge.Sczcurek 1974 189 At about 9:50 p.m.,Associated Press 1972 49 roughly 13 minutes after leaving the dock,Hobbs 2018Sczcurek 1974 188 the African Neptune struck the southern portion of the bridge.Horton 2014Pittman 2012 The impact occurred roughly 250 ft m -1 south of the nearest lift span tower.note This value comes from a 1974 report on the incident created by the United States Coast Guard.Sczcurek 1974 189 However, in a 1972 report from the Associated Press, the drawbridge operator at the time of the event estimated that the ship missed the bridge opening by about 300 to 400 ft m on.Associated Press 1972 49 Following the collision, three sections of the bridge, totaling roughly 450 ft m in total, fell into the river.note Multiple sources, including a report from the Coast Guard, state that three sections of the bridge fell into the river.Sczcurek 1974 189Associated Press 2024United Press International 1972a 93Horton 2014Hobbs 2018 However, a contemporary report from the Associated Press states that the impact caused four sections to fall.Associated Press 1972 49 Additionally, while most sources state that approximately 450 ft m fell,United Press International 1972a 93Hobbs 2018Pittman 2012 a 2018 article in The Brunswick News states that 350 ft m fell.Hobbs 2018 Ten motor vehicles, consisting of 8 cars and two semi-trailer trucks,Jackson 1989 332 and 24 people fell into the river,Horton 2014Pittman 2012Associated Press 2024 which at that point had a depth of about 30 ft m -1.Sczcurek 1974 189 Response thumb|Aerial view of the collapsed bridge Immediately following the collapse, crewmembers on the African Neptune began to throw lifebuoys into the river and deployed lifeboats in order to rescue individuals who had fallen from the bridge.Horton 2014United Press International 1972a 93 Meanwhile, the bridge operator called the Brunswick Police Department and a distress signal was sent out.Sczcurek 1974 189 Several harbor craft, including the tugboat that had assisted the African Neptune, responded to the call, and emergency responders from many nearby jurisdictions and organizations, including police from Jekyll Island,Associated Press 1972 49 the Georgia State Patrol, and Civil Defense units, also arrived.Sczcurek 1974 189 However, rescue efforts were hindered by the darkness and uncooperative weather.Associated Press 1972 49 Several people were rescued from the water, while some people who had been on the bridge during the impact had managed to stay on the damaged structure.Sczcurek 1974 189 Survivors were taken to the Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital for treatment.Associated Press 2024 While initial reporting from the Associated Press listed only one person dead and eight missing,Associated Press 1972 49 the death toll increased by the following day.United Press International 1972a 93 In total, ten people were reported dead, while eleven others suffered injuries from the collapse.Associated Press 2024note Most sources agree that the bridge collapse killed ten people.Condon 2024Davis 2024Pittman 2012Horton 2014Associated Press 2024 However, one contemporary report from United Press International states that at least 11 people died as result of the incident.United Press International 1972b 66 Aftermath thumb|left|upright=0.7|The African Neptune suffered some minor damage to its bow.Associated Press 1972 49 Immediately following the collapse, the port was closed overnight and the African Neptune was led by two tugboats to a dock for temporary repairs.Sczcurek 1974 189 While the ship was not in immediate danger of sinking, it had suffered some damage to its bow.Associated Press 1972 49 The next day, the ship traveled to the Port of Savannah, where it unloaded its cargo and had permanent repairs made.Horton 2014Sczcurek 1974 189 Prior to leaving, Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter came to Brunswick to inspect the damage and talk to some of the ship's crew.Associated Press 2024Horton 2014 Search and rescue operations continued into the next morning, though no additional survivors were found,Sczcurek 1974 189 and crews began to collect debris out of the river that same day.Pittman 2012 The last body was recovered from the wreckage by November 12.Sczcurek 1974 189 Initial reporting from United Press International (UPI) estimated that the bridge would be out of service for at least six months and would cost over $1 million ($US 1 1972 1 million in US) to repair.United Press International 1972a 93 As Interstate 95 in Georgia had not yet been constructed through Glynn County at the time, the only nearby detour option was through Georgia State Route 303 through Blythe Island.Hobbs 2018 Shortly after the incident, the government of Georgia filed a lawsuit against the shipowners in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking $2 million ($US 2 1972 1 million in US) in damages and requesting that the ship be condemned and sold to satisfy this amount.United Press International 1972b 66 Investigation On November 8, the United States Coast Guard began an investigation into the incident,United Press International 1972a 93 and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also initiated an investigation.Sczcurek 1974 190 Initial reporting from UPI attributed the accident to either a mechanical issue with the steering gear or a piloting error.United Press International 1972a 93 However, in their final reports issued in May 1974,Hobbs 2018 the investigations revealed that the collision had been the result of the helmsman incorrectly entering the pilot's orders.Horton 2014 As the ship approached the bridge opening, instead of properly applying the pilot's "LEFT" orders, the helmsman had ordered "RIGHT" directions.Horton 2014Sczcurek 1974 189–190 In their investigation, the NTSB found that the design of the wheelhouse may have played a factor in the accident, as the steering wheel was small and partially obscured from the helmsman's view, and other people in the wheelhouse were unable to see which way the wheel was being turned.Sczcurek 1974 190 Additionally, the rudder order indicator was a small instrument in a recessed area that required the viewer to be very close to read.Sczcurek 1974 190 Furthermore, the mate was not continuously monitoring the helmsman at the time because of other duties he had aboard the bridge.Sczcurek 1974 190 Thus, according to the NTSB, at the time that the helmsman was incorrectly applying orders, neither the shipmaster, the pilots, nor the mate, were monitoring the input with enough frequency to identify the error prior to the "point of no return".Sczcurek 1974 190 The Coast Guard also identified issues with the bridge configuration as contributing to the incident, as the ship, and other similarly designed ships, were required to be in a state of turning past the "point of no return" for making the bridge opening.Sczcurek 1974 189 Later history thumb|In 2003, the vertical-lift bridge was replaced by a cable-stayed bridge (pictured under construction, 2001).Condon 2024 Repairs to the bridge took six months to complete in total and cost approximately $1.3 million ($US 1.3 1972 1 million in US).Hobbs 2018 Following the repairs, barricades were set up to keep cars completely off of the main span of the bridge whenever the vertical-lift span was open in order to reduce the risk of casualties in any future bridge collapse.Davis 2024 While the 1972 collision was the first time a ship had struck the Sidney Lanier Bridge,Horton 2014 it would not be the last, as in 1987, a Polish cargo ship struck the bridge.Condon 2024 This collision occurred as the ship, the Ziema Bialostocka, was leaving the port and passing through the bridge opening.Davis 2024 During that time, an anchor on the ship's starboard side made contact with a support tower on the bridge's southern side, causing approximately $3 million in damages ($US 3 1987 1 million in US) and prompting the bridge to be closed for roughly five months.Davis 2024 However, unlike the 1972 event, this incident did not cause any injuries or fatalities.Davis 2024Hobbs 2018 Following this second collision, the Coast Guard declared the bridge a navigational hazard.Pittman 2012 In 2003, the original vertical-lift bridge was replaced with a new cable-stayed bridge that featured improved bridge protection systems, such as several acres of artificial islands surrounding each of the new bridge's pylons.Condon 2024 According to Billitz, the African Neptune impact was cited by several government officials as a reason for replacing the existing bridge.Horton 2014 The new bridge, which kept the Sidney Lanier name, is the longest and tallest bridge in the state and features a large open area underneath its main span for cargo ships to pass through, eliminating the need for a drawbridge or vertical lift-span.Pittman 2012Hobbs 2018 Following the new bridge's completion, the old bridge was demolished, with only a small portion saved and modified into a fishing pier.Pittman 2012Hobbs 2018 See also List of bridge failures Notes note References Sources 30em yes November 8, 1972 Ship Hits Georgia Bridge; One Killed and 8 Missing https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/08/archives/ship-hits-georgia-bridge-one-killed-and-8-missing.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20180108074107/http://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/08/archives/ship-hits-georgia-bridge-one-killed-and-8-missing.html January 8, 2018 August 17, 2024 The New York Times 49 0362-4331 1645522 Associated Press Associated Press 1972 March 26, 2024 April 2, 1990 From 1990: Survivor recalls night that ship hit bridge in Brunswick in 1972 https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/from-1990-survivor-recalls-night-that-ship-hit-bridge-in-brunswick-in-1972/RJT6RGJP55GRRLXSUUPYEKZ6TE/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240418050446/https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/from-1990-survivor-recalls-night-that-ship-hit-bridge-in-brunswick-in-1972/RJT6RGJP55GRRLXSUUPYEKZ6TE/ April 18, 2024 August 17, 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cox Enterprises 1539-7459 48488341 Associated Press Associated Press 2024 Condon Amy Paige March 26, 2024 Could a bridge collapse happen in Savannah or Brunswick? Georgia Ports leaders weigh in https://www.savannahnow.com/story/business/transportation/2024/03/26/georgia-ports-measures-to-prevent-vessel-collisions-bridge-collapses/73104669007/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20240329143944/https://www.savannahnow.com/story/business/transportation/2024/03/26/georgia-ports-measures-to-prevent-vessel-collisions-bridge-collapses/73104669007/ March 29, 2024 August 17, 2024 Savannah Morning News Gannett 1047-028X 51656980 Davis Jingle March 26, 2024 May 4, 1987 From 1987: Freighter collision would spur construction of new Brunswick bridge https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/from-1987-freighter-collision-would-spur-construction-of-new-brunswick-bridge/JHZ4W6YKXNGZTPCTVDYSHRCXJQ/ subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20240420235251/https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/from-1987-freighter-collision-would-spur-construction-of-new-brunswick-bridge/JHZ4W6YKXNGZTPCTVDYSHRCXJQ/ April 20, 2024 August 17, 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cox Enterprises 1539-7459 48488341 Hobbs Larry August 25, 2018 Old Sidney Lanier Bridge marked by tragedy, endurance https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/old-sidney-lanier-bridge-marked-by-tragedy-endurance/article_f5231c07-0526-5b8f-a9c8-1ab7e8486b2d.html subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20240329151132/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/old-sidney-lanier-bridge-marked-by-tragedy-endurance/article_f5231c07-0526-5b8f-a9c8-1ab7e8486b2d.html March 29, 2024 August 17, 2024 The Brunswick News 1090-3895 259370667 Horton Amy October 27, 2014 January 31, 2001 Crewman of Ill-fated African Neptune Revisits Accident Site https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/crewman-of-ill-fated-african-neptune-revisits-accident-site/article_f46982c9-e314-5c80-892d-193d985593b9.html subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20240802145333/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/crewman-of-ill-fated-african-neptune-revisits-accident-site/article_f46982c9-e314-5c80-892d-193d985593b9.html August 2, 2024 August 2, 2024 The Brunswick News 1090-3895 259370667 Jackson L. E. https://books.google.com/books?id=qTV-_s1b-JAC Proceedings of the Bridge Scour Symposium Federal Highway Administration and United States Geological Survey 1989 323–339 The National Transportation Safety Board's Role in the Investigation of Bridge Collapse with Emphasis on Recent Underwater Failures Pittman Meghan November 6, 2012 Night freighter hit bridge still vivid https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/night-freighter-hit-bridge-still-vivid/article_ae03cd3a-30d2-5f45-8101-56414962b30a.html subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20240802145732/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/night-freighter-hit-bridge-still-vivid/article_ae03cd3a-30d2-5f45-8101-56414962b30a.html August 2, 2024 August 2, 2024 The Brunswick News 1090-3895 259370667 October 1974 13 Minutes https://books.google.com/books?id=_aUCL8-7ulwC Proceedings of the Marine Safety Council United States Coast Guard Sczcurek G. D. 31 10 187–190, 201, 204 0364-0981 1144869969 November 9, 1972a Death Toll Rises to 5 in Georgia River Crash https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/09/archives/death-toll-rises-to-5-in-georgia-river-crash.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20221006074025/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/09/archives/death-toll-rises-to-5-in-georgia-river-crash.html October 6, 2022 August 17, 2024 The New York Times 93 0362-4331 1645522 United Press International United Press International 1972a November 11, 1972b Georgia Asking $2-Million From Ship That Hit Bridge https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/11/archives/georgia-asking-2million-from-ship-that-hit-bridge.html live https://web.archive.org/web/20221014052854/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/11/11/archives/georgia-asking-2million-from-ship-that-hit-bridge.html October 14, 2022 August 17, 2024 The New York Times 66 0362-4331 1645522 United Press International United Press International 1972b Further reading Hobbs Larry November 16, 2019 On fateful night, young teen made a mad dash for life https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/on-fateful-night-young-teen-made-a-mad-dash-for-life/article_300c8441-aea5-5405-aa02-b084445dd50f.html subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20240817021856/https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/on-fateful-night-young-teen-made-a-mad-dash-for-life/article_300c8441-aea5-5405-aa02-b084445dd50f.html August 17, 2024 August 17, 2024 The Brunswick News 1090-3895 259370667 Stanford Duane D. March 26, 2024 April 7, 2003 From 2003: Bridge to Brunswick's future opens 30 years after tragedy https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/from-2003-bridge-to-brunswicks-future-opens-30-years-after-tragedy/2THPCBSI5FAFZLFQ2NBMLD5L6A/ subscription live https://web.archive.org/web/20240629174107/https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/from-2003-bridge-to-brunswicks-future-opens-30-years-after-tragedy/2THPCBSI5FAFZLFQ2NBMLD5L6A/ June 29, 2024 August 17, 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Cox Enterprises 1539-7459 48488341 External links https://archive.org/details/wrecksrescuesinv0000unse/page/428/ United States Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation report on the incident Category:1972 disasters in the United States Category:1972 in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Bridge disasters in the United States Category:Brunswick, Georgia Category:Building and structure collapses in 1972 Category:Building and structure collapses in the United States Category:Collisions between ships and bridges Category:Maersk Line Category:Maritime incidents in 1972 Category:Maritime incidents in the United States Category:November 1972 in the United States Category:Transportation disasters in Georgia (U.S. state)