NTSB: Pilot’s actions, bulker’s speed led to Virginia wharf strike

NTSB: Pilot’s actions, bulker’s speed led to Virginia wharf strike

The bulk carrier Ijssel Confidence backed toward a turning basin on the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, Va., with two tugboats ready to assist as needed.  The 590-foot ship, under the direction of a docking pilot, picked up speed over the next 15 minutes. G.M. McAllister, a 4,000-hp tug positioned at the stern, became boxed in and hit infrastructure at the…
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Barge strike closes swing span on Intracoastal Waterway in Virginia

Barge strike closes swing span on Intracoastal Waterway in Virginia

A swing bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway in Chesapeake, Va., sustained serious damage after a single-barge tow struck it. The 2,000-hp Island Lookout was pushing a barge loaded with scrap metal when the barge hit the north side of the Centerville Turnpike Bridge at 0446 on Nov. 14. The bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic since the impact. “The…
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