Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Yeah, there was some mix up with a repair crew on the bridge that didn't get the word and reset some sensors to the wrong setting. It had something to do with wear in the lift mechainism or something. The tug & ship crews thought they had more room than they actually did because the bridge was supposedly in the fully up position.

-B in B

I read a copy of the accident report, and the B&O (CSX) was found pretty much at fault on that one. Something about the bridge showing to be at maximum lift when in reality it was not.
As for the boats, they are going to have to back up on the Calumet River, be it coming in or leaving. I have heard of a few vessels though going down to 127th St. to use the turning basin and come back up. I am impressed with all the crews on how they navigate the river here, as it seems that everywhere there is a bridge, the river bends underneath it, especially at 92nd and 106th St.

Bridge accident was caused by a saltie being towed by 2 tugs. Many a freighter has backed down the Calumet without incident.

Considering what happened to that old B&O bridge there, I'm surprised they don't have some sort of Navigation Rules in effect by city ordinance to require tugs there. Buffalo has such rules on the books due to some accidents & bridge allisions.

-B in B

Scott, I have watched several of these boats like the Munson,Clarke and Beegley back in or out of the Calumet river and they seem do it so easily. I did notice as you can kind of see in one of the Munson photos that there is some kind of control stand on the wing which i'm sure makes it alot easier to make these backup moves.
Even old boats like the Maumee and Manistee back in many times unassisted

With the addition of thrusters. especially stern thrusters, those clasic lakers can now back in almost anywhere.

Saw a few photos of the John G. Munson backing upriver to load cargo. Wouldn't this be easier for one of the "River Class" boats? I assume that this is why they were constructed? Is it now as easy for a lake freighter type boat to get into river ports as it is for boats that were designed for this purpose?