January 27, 2012
— Dave in Texas After the Costa Concordia accident I joked (badly, I know), "did Joseph Hazelwood get another job with a cruise line?"
State officials were scrambling Friday to determine when — or if — they would repair an 80-year-old bridge over Kentucky Lake that was ripped through by a huge ocean-going cargo ship on Thursday night.Two sections of the Eggner Ferry Bridge, which carries U.S. 68 and Ky. 80 over the lake, were destroyed by the northbound Delta Mariner, a 312-foot ship carrying rocket components from Decatur, Ala., to Cape Canaveral in Florida.
I realize this isn't a NASA mission per se, but, dude. Did you not see that bridge thingy up ahead?
Fortunately no injuries, other than wounded pride, were reported.
Bridge stories always make me miss a former cob-logger, Dr. Reo Symes. He had a thing about bridges.
via Mare over at the H2. The happening place for news of the day and big boobs on Friday. It's this, I don't know, this thing they do. Too much trouble to explain.
Posted by: Dave in Texas at
04:51 PM
| Comments (151)
Post contains 186 words, total size 2 kb.
Posted by: Barack "CivEng" Obama at January 27, 2012 04:54 PM (m9/ps)
Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 27, 2012 04:55 PM (npr0X)
Posted by: Capt. Precident at January 27, 2012 04:55 PM (+Jr2Z)
Is this the first time that this company has transported stuff under this bridge?
Posted by: rabidfox at January 27, 2012 04:57 PM (l8oFk)
Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 05:00 PM (SsG4J)
Posted by: phoenixgirl....a voter without a candidate at January 27, 2012 05:01 PM (Ho2rs)
Posted by: phoenixgirl....a voter without a candidate at January 27, 2012 05:02 PM (Ho2rs)
Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 05:02 PM (ZJCDy)
The Tennessee River, Tammy.
There are maps and stuff.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:03 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: Oldcat at January 27, 2012 05:06 PM (z1N6a)
Posted by: SCoaMF at January 27, 2012 05:06 PM (TMeYE)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:07 PM (O2Wq5)
Posted by: Patch at January 27, 2012 05:07 PM (eJeKZ)
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:08 PM (7utQ2)
True story.
Posted by: Capt. Joey Biden, retard at January 27, 2012 05:08 PM (UOM48)
Dude commandeers a tractor-trailer pulling a tank trailer during a pursuit scene.
"Whatcha haulin'?
"ROCKET FUEL!"
Posted by: ballistic at January 27, 2012 05:09 PM (q4FpF)
I don't know maybe he was distracted by the ONT or something. All I know is it is Day 20, cold turkey on the chewy tobaccy. No physical cravings, but I miss my friend, Mr. Skoal. He was always there for a good "it'll be all right". If I make it to my late 80's, I am going to look him up again.
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at January 27, 2012 05:09 PM (XrrP7)
Posted by: mpfs at January 27, 2012 05:10 PM (2s/B4)
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 27, 2012 05:11 PM (miKTl)
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 27, 2012 05:11 PM (FIE/L)
There are maps and stuff.
**********
Circa, it just seems odd to go all the way through Tennessee to get to Ky to end up in FL.
Must be an issue of depth of the rivers?
Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 05:11 PM (SsG4J)
Good grief.
Adds new meaning to "a boat is a hole in the water you throw money into."
Posted by: Jane D'oh at January 27, 2012 05:12 PM (UOM48)
Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 05:12 PM (ZJCDy)
Politics. Crony capitalism goes back a long way.
Sen. Howard Heflin. RIP, but his sins live on.
Mike
Posted by: Mike in CFL at January 27, 2012 05:13 PM (motsG)
The only other way from Decatur/Huntsville would be down the Tombigbee waterway to Mobile, and it looks like that particular ship probably has a draft that is too deep for some of that route.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:13 PM (7utQ2)
The mistake is in assuming anyone was actually driving the boat when it hit.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:14 PM (O2Wq5)
I would have thought rail or land would be far more direct, but if the item is big enough to not fit under a bridge, I guess you have to go water no matter how far it is.
Posted by: Oldcat at January 27, 2012 05:14 PM (z1N6a)
I don't know maybe he was distracted by the ONT or something. All I know is it is Day 20, cold turkey on the chewy tobaccy. No physical cravings, but I miss my friend, Mr. Skoal. He was always there for a good "it'll be all right". If I make it to my late 80's, I am going to look him up again.
Posted by: Guy Mohawk
Hang in there Guy, I quit several months ago, you can do it.
Posted by: hobbes at January 27, 2012 05:14 PM (+CcmI)
---------
Took a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
Posted by: Bugs Bunny at January 27, 2012 05:14 PM (6fER6)
SEE ? We can keep up with them Europeans. Barry nicely done.
Posted by: seamrog at January 27, 2012 05:14 PM (g6av1)
Not my fault! The damn jumped out in front of me. Do you see any white lines in that river? No? Obviously it was jawalk...jaybridging too.
Posted by: Captain at January 27, 2012 05:14 PM (1bluv)
Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 05:17 PM (OT9g0)
Mike
Posted by: Mike in CFL at January 27, 2012 09:13 PM (motsG)
Oh, this goes waaaay before Hefty. A little homerism on my part...yeah, it's a little porky, but LBJ is the reason that the Apollo missions didn't say "Huntsville, Tranquility Base here the Eagle has landed."
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:17 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 05:18 PM (ZJCDy)
Posted by: Captain Schettino the geography nazi at January 27, 2012 05:19 PM (jSHRL)
Oldcat, I used to work for a place that had rockets parts sent over water from Ukraine and Russia, no other way to get 'em.
Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 05:19 PM (SsG4J)
That's right, I just did that! You're welcome, fuckers.
Posted by: Capt. Precident at January 27, 2012 05:19 PM (+Jr2Z)
Seriously. If he hadn't dispersed the space program's factories in half a dozen states, there wouldn't be an issue with moving bulky components around. They'd all be built in Titusville or maybe Jacksonville.
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 27, 2012 05:20 PM (miKTl)
Posted by: RayDar at January 27, 2012 05:20 PM (OT9g0)
But of course, this is mere speculation and rumor-mongering.
Posted by: Arms Merchant at January 27, 2012 05:20 PM (kPT11)
He's Italian. SEX SEX SEX SEX SEX.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:22 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 27, 2012 05:22 PM (FIE/L)
Posted by: Arms Merchant at January 27, 2012 05:22 PM (kPT11)
Posted by: RuPaul fan at January 27, 2012 05:22 PM (+Jr2Z)
Posted by: RayDar at January 27, 2012 09:20 PM (OT9g0)
RIVERS CAN NOT CUT STEEL!
Posted by: Oldcat at January 27, 2012 05:23 PM (z1N6a)
This, and Global Warming partially melted it.
Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 05:24 PM (SsG4J)
Posted by: CoolCzech at January 27, 2012 05:24 PM (niZvt)
Something is terribly wrong with this picture,
Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at January 27, 2012 05:24 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:25 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: Count de Monet at January 27, 2012 05:25 PM (4q5tP)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:26 PM (O2Wq5)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:27 PM (O2Wq5)
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:27 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 05:28 PM (OT9g0)
I'm sure the Paultards are on it.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:28 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at January 27, 2012 05:28 PM (7+pP9)
i look at this bridge everyday from my house.
Posted by: Racefan at January 27, 2012 05:29 PM (b08Oj)
I like my women how I like my Italian Cruises. Wrecked, wet, and ready to go down.
Posted by: Count de Monet at January 27, 2012 09:25 PM (4q5tP)
He likes his liquor like he likes his ship, on the rocks!
Posted by: ErikW at January 27, 2012 05:29 PM (gnNFW)
In the immortal words of Inspector Jacques Clouseau: "Not any more."
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:30 PM (7utQ2)
I like my women how I like my Italian Cruises. Wrecked, wet, and ready to go down.
Hahahahahahaha!!!!
Posted by: fluffy at January 27, 2012 05:31 PM (4pSIn)
Posted by: Pinhead at January 27, 2012 05:33 PM (DrrnD)
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 27, 2012 05:35 PM (FIE/L)
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 09:28 PM (7utQ2)
The "Rocket City Rednecks" have to be all over this one, if it hasn't been cancelled yet. I hope not.
Posted by: 66chevelle at January 27, 2012 05:35 PM (QjSgY)
Posted by: CoolCzech at January 27, 2012 05:35 PM (niZvt)
Posted by: seamrog at January 27, 2012 05:35 PM (g6av1)
Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at January 27, 2012 05:37 PM (7+pP9)
Oh, well. We'll crush that bridge when we come to it.
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 27, 2012 05:38 PM (miKTl)
Posted by: nickless at January 27, 2012 05:39 PM (MMC8r)
Posted by: seamrog at January 27, 2012 09:35 PM (g6av1)
Good one.
Which one? The bridge-bridge, or the bridge section laying across the bow?
Posted by: Count de Monet at January 27, 2012 05:39 PM (4q5tP)
Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at January 27, 2012 05:40 PM (7+pP9)
Does this look like a guy who is enjoying himself?
http://tinyurl.com/84egfj8
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:41 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: This message brought to you by the merchant seamen's union at January 27, 2012 05:42 PM (dBvlk)
Posted by: Scotty at January 27, 2012 05:43 PM (niZvt)
Posted by: eman at January 27, 2012 05:43 PM (pn8u0)
Posted by: Captain Gold Hat at January 27, 2012 05:44 PM (dPfdN)
Posted by: ErikW at January 27, 2012 09:29 PM (gnNFW)
Hey I had absolutely nothing[i/] to do with this boondoggle.
This is nothing but a malicious smear for chrissakes.
Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 05:44 PM (ZJCDy)
Seriously. If he hadn't dispersed the space program's factories in half a dozen states, there wouldn't be an issue with moving bulky components around. They'd all be built in Titusville or maybe Jacksonville.
And then they could all be hit by one Russian nuke. To be fair to Johnson, not that I like to be, some Cold War calculation probably entered into it too. Oh and yeah, given that they were going to disperse the sites, where they ended up was doubtless due to the usual game of who has the best political connections.
Posted by: barbed-wire fence fixer at January 27, 2012 05:45 PM (R7BOy)
But in the interest of information, here's a few best guesses from someone who's worked on tow boats on inland rivers.
As to the routing:
The parts may be too large or heavy to be transported by rail or truck.
They have to be kept from any contamination. (plus see above)
The cost of rail or truck was prohibitive.
As to navigating the bridge:
Notice how high the vessel is compared to even the middle span. Not much room. River depth (and thus the surface) is probably high.
There may have been a surge in river height due to recent rain.
The Navigation lights may have been out and the Capt took the lower span as the center span.
During winter lots of fog at NIGHT on rivers. It obscures lights and superstructure and even can confuse radar interpretation.
Current and wind can push a vessel quite far off track and into the bridge piers or under a different span.
There may have been a mechanical breakdown of steering or engines and there are NO brakes on a vessel.
And of course the old standby: Human error.
May have been mate driving and they weren't qualified for this passage and conditions.
And of course alcohol or drugs or lack of sleep.
Posted by: Old Man River at January 27, 2012 05:47 PM (CP+yl)
May have been mate driving and they weren't qualified for this passage and conditions.
And of course alcohol or drugs or lack of sleep.
Three words: Restless. Bridge. Syndrome.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:48 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: A totally sober navigator at January 27, 2012 05:50 PM (FsqHK)
I think spreading NASA pork dollars was much more in Johnson's mind than strategic dispersal.
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 27, 2012 05:51 PM (miKTl)
Posted by: Old Man River at January 27, 2012 09:47 PM (CP+yl)
And of course, bear mace, PMS, and/or donkey semen.
Posted by: Count de Monet at January 27, 2012 05:51 PM (4q5tP)
Posted by: Ed Anger - Certified Kos Kid at January 27, 2012 05:52 PM (7+pP9)
Would that have mattered? Why nuke a myriad of factories when you can simply hit the launch facility, or the power plants that supply them and render all the factory product moot? We only have a few launch sites capable of launching heavy lifters. KSC and Vandenburgh are about it in CONUS. The northern ICBM bases are more suited to polar trajectories, and I suppose you could task them to launch a fairly light weight spy sat, but the commercial heavy lifters wouldn't fit in those silos.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:54 PM (O2Wq5)
Eh...look at the map...when NASA was in its infancy, most of the primary installations would have been beyond the reach of Soviet ICBMs and their SLBMs were few and unreliable. A case can be made.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 05:55 PM (7utQ2)
Posted by: Scotty at January 27, 2012 06:00 PM (niZvt)
Posted by: Racefan at January 27, 2012 06:00 PM (b08Oj)
Posted by: Obscure Star Trek Reference Guy at January 27, 2012 06:02 PM (pn8u0)
Posted by: A totally sober navigator at January 27, 2012 09:50 PM (FsqHK)
There's no waterway with sufficient depth to ferry heavy goods from Alabama to Florida, except going through TN and KY to get to the Ohio, and then the Mississippi. Current trucking avenues, along with current airways available commercially, lack the ability to transport these goods as well, as they're just too big, leaving waterborne transport as the only option. I don't know about military heavy transport / airlift capacity, nor whether it is available for rent, could even handle a job this size. The natural deepwater rivers are really the only way we have, presently available, to transport XXL pieces of [insert any kind of machinery that can't or shouldn't be assembled onsite].
I hate that the bridge is smoked, though. There's a replacement in progress, but planned completion is in 2016. I don't know that the resources exist to speed that up much, and I work with many people who will be going >30 minutes out of their way to deal with this until a solution is found. I'm sure JEF is on top of this though, as KY will go against him 75/25 this year.
Posted by: StPatrick_TN at January 27, 2012 06:03 PM (lJJMb)
If you're going to take big-ass equipment on a big-ass boat, you need a big-ass river to carry it. That means going through Kentucky. The only other major waterway is this guy:
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/TennTom/
Posted by: pbrown at January 27, 2012 06:04 PM (HASDo)
Posted by: Racefan at January 27, 2012 06:04 PM (b08Oj)
Posted by: eman at January 27, 2012 06:04 PM (pn8u0)
Posted by: MikeTheMoose at January 27, 2012 06:06 PM (GE1+K)
Posted by: StPatrick_TN at January 27, 2012 06:09 PM (lJJMb)
Posted by: Old Man River at January 27, 2012 09:47 PM (CP+yl)
If I may put in my own worthless two cents:
The river's waterline is low, you can see that in the foreground of the photo. The deepest part of a river is usually down the middle so there is no reason, even if the water is shallow, to deviate from deeper waters. Especially if it's equipped with GPS.
Also, marine radar is pretty effective nowadays. It's possible that the ship's owners didn't upgrade because they're cheap asses but I doubt it.
Foggy conditions aren't even a factor nowadays.
Posted by: ErikW at January 27, 2012 06:10 PM (gnNFW)
Gimme my blog back, Pixy!
Posted by: StPatrick_TN at January 27, 2012 06:11 PM (lJJMb)
Many years ago while working away from home in Portland, Oregon, I heard an early morning radio talk show going on about how a Navy destroyer that had been on a 4th of July visit could not leave because of high water levels. The water was too high for it to sail under the "Iron Bridge", a local landmark regarded by many to be an eyesore.
After announcer A delivered this information, announcer B asked what the problem was, inasmuch as we have a ship that is a "destroyer" AND IN IT'S WAY IS THE FUCKING IRON BRIDGE. "This is not a problem, folks, this is an OPPORTUNITY!"
I may have imagined the "FUCKING" in my drowsiness, but like Nancy Pelosi, I can hear words that should be there, even if they aren't.
Posted by: sherlock at January 27, 2012 06:11 PM (1pJ57)
Posted by: deadrody at January 27, 2012 06:11 PM (eOvu0)
The legend lives on,
From the Cherokee on down,
Of a big lake they call
Lake Kentucky.
Now, the lake it is wide,
And the bridge, it is low,
Deltal Mariner's captain
Felt Lucky....
Posted by: Paisley Lightfoot's Singing Guitar at January 27, 2012 06:21 PM (QjSgY)
I think spreading NASA pork dollars was much more in Johnson's mind than strategic dispersal.
You're probably right. The strategic dispersal just crossed my mind as something that might have been a factor.
Posted by: barbed-wire fence fixer at January 27, 2012 06:23 PM (R7BOy)
Posted by: 66chevelle at January 27, 2012 06:23 PM (QjSgY)
Posted by: Chico Marx at January 27, 2012 06:44 PM (f06ST)
We're going to Hell (again) at January 27, 2012 10:48 PM (c9Ivb)
hahahahaha way to run with it,WgtH(A)
Posted by: 66chevelle at January 27, 2012 07:50 PM (QjSgY)
Mark Oxner – Turn this Ship Around (ad #7)
h t t p : / / l o n e l y c o n s e r v a t i v e . c o m / 2 0 1 2 / 0 1 / m a r k - o x n e r - t u r n - t h i s - s h i p - a r o u n d /
Posted by: ambrosia at January 27, 2012 10:08 PM (oZfic)
Posted by: gDavid at January 28, 2012 12:41 AM (E0ipC)
Posted by: cackfinger at January 28, 2012 02:22 AM (a9mQu)
Posted by: TEH WON at January 28, 2012 02:42 AM (GsBJY)
Posted by: rickl at January 28, 2012 04:15 AM (sdi6R)
Posted by: Cameron Williams at January 28, 2012 07:13 AM (DDqjv)
I spent much of my childhood on Kentucky Lake and drove over that bridge more times that I want to count. Everyone in the area knows that big vessels have to go under the center stantion. I have seen more sailbots lose things off the top of the mast when forgeting this rule than you can believe (insert father cussing mightily here).
There is a school in Paducah - closest "city" to the lake - that teaches captains how to navigate these waters. It has an extremely cool simulator so that they can "navigate" without actually hitting anything. Thus, I am not really buying the "I didn't see the bridge" thing. The captain or pilot should have known it was there/approaching and governed him/herself accordingly. They have radar and other technology on the bridge that would have "seen" it. They should have known what "it" was and stayed to the channel.
As to those wondering why you have to go through KY to get from Alabama to Floriday - 'cause God made the rivers that way and the TennTom is not deep enough for ocean-going vessels usually.
Posted by: Lady of the Lake at January 28, 2012 08:37 AM (koej0)
"Officials: Portion of Kentucky bridge collapses"
Like the part of the aging infrastructure Obama has been warning about just, collapsed. Nevermind that part of the story where the ship smacked the shit out of it.
Posted by: Dang at January 28, 2012 09:44 AM (BbX1b)
So it's nighttime. Big deal. The lights on that boat would have made it like broad daylight.
Someone had his head up and locked.
Posted by: creeper at January 28, 2012 09:58 AM (gre5a)
Seriously. If [LBJ] hadn't dispersed the space program's factories in half a dozen states, there wouldn't be an issue with moving bulky components around. They'd all be built in Titusville or maybe Jacksonville.
And the first category 5 hurricane to come along would be able to knock us out of the space business in a matter of hours? awesome.
Hurricane Floyd (cat 4, 1999) came to close for comfort to the Vehicle Assembly Building and all the shuttles.
Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie © at January 28, 2012 10:20 AM (1hM1d)
It's fun to treat this as a joke but I have family in the barge biz, Ky DOT and Coast Guard. The barge guy says this wasn't a barge, it was a ship. He's a trustworthy and intelligent guy who's been in the biz a long time. He's been on barges under this bridge and said there were recent complaints to the CG that lights were out. He says you know the bridge is there, of course, but in the pitch dark and coming up at a good speed you cannot tell where the exact spans are w/o the lights, and you cannot easily slow or change direction, and that the problems were muliplied by a ship that doesn't often travel this way. He further said when you literally have inches to spare on the top or side in a difficult situation like this and expected to see navigational lights, that radar wouldn't have saved you. He's been a deckhand, pilot, captain and manager and is one of the sharpest men I know, and he's sympathetic to the pilot.
The DOT is responsible for the lights, and the spokesman last night said he "believed" that "most" of the lights were working.
Posted by: parentofed at January 28, 2012 12:41 PM (YLyNm)
Posted by: EROWMER at January 29, 2012 05:00 AM (sIm3i)
You're assuming that the line of rock is a high water mark.
That's not necessarily so.
Plus it can be seen that this vessel would barely fit under the center span. Which would indicate that the water was higher than they expected or the vessel would never have tried to make the passage.
And at that point it's actually it's a lake formed by the impoundment for the dam down river. I'm assuming they have labeled this bridge's location correctly as being across Kentucky lake.
I understand that GPS can pinpoint one's current position quite accurately still there is a lag time and accuracy is +- 15' which isn't bad but going under a bridge that can mean the difference between hitting a pier or not. It also doesn't mean squat that you know your position if your headed toward the wrong place.
And yes, even with radar and gps, ships have come to grief BECAUSE OF FOGGY conditions obscuring marker buoys, lights and disorienting the pilot while also distorting sound(from buoys or markers so equipped).
Seems to me though that the height of the vessel was higher than the clearance under the central span and this vessel would've collided with the bridge no matter what. Possibly the pilot realized this and actually aimed for the span at the side to mitigate any vehicles being put into the lake.
As to Captains who run their ships aground; in the US, the Coast Guard is the governing authority and a hearing finding the Capt at fault, would remove his license and only very rarely might they get it back (but not likely and even if they did, no company's insurer would allow them to hire one).
Seems you evaluated your opinion correctly.
Posted by: Old Man River at January 31, 2012 01:56 AM (CP+yl)
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Posted by: cackfinger at January 27, 2012 04:53 PM (a9mQu)