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Re: Bridge In Green Bay

Posted: July 17, 2017, 2:03 pm
by Johnny13
I was just curious, why are the tugs no longer used when needed in the Fox River.

-John

Re: Bridge In Green Bay

Posted: July 17, 2017, 12:59 pm
by hugh3
Some people always assume the Captain is always at fault when something like this accrues. If the wind always blew from the same direction and velocity and the current was always constant then possible blame might be assigned. The company's know there are no perfect situations and hire the man with experience and expect that person to exercise his best judgment as the conditions allow. Lost time expenses and insurance cost determine longevity/job security.

Re: Bridge In Green Bay

Posted: July 17, 2017, 12:03 pm
by Guest
There's been current gauges on the Cuyahoga and Maumee for 10 years its time to get a few more around the lakes. Saginaw, Menominee .... its nice to know what you have to deal with before you get there, then you can start deciding how much is too much.

Re: Bridge In Green Bay

Posted: July 17, 2017, 10:04 am
by Rob
Obviously it's great nobody was injured. I should think the owners and operators of the Barker are extremely displeased. But what is it like onboard when an incident like this occurs? Is it really scary or just sort of a thrill? Or is everyone concerned for the captain?

Re: Bridge In Green Bay

Posted: July 17, 2017, 6:18 am
by statmk
I sailed for 11 years as a mate when I was young. I now live in Green Bay and have an office on the river between Walnut and Mason St. From my sailing days, the currents in the Fox can be treacherous at high water. One time we were pinned to the railroad bridge by Fort Howard. The past several days the water is unusually high so the current is unusually strong. When you get around Main St., with the East River flowing into the Fox just north of the bridge, you get some really odd and counter intuitive currents. Barker had its thruster running but it could not overcome the overall effect of the current on the vessel. Something similar happened to us years ago and we struck the Grosse Ile toll bridge going to McClouth in Trenton. The current did what it never did--set us left instead of right. Looks like that is a likely cause here. It happens and is a hazard of the trade.

Re: Bridge In Green Bay

Posted: July 16, 2017, 10:36 pm
by Guest
The story being reported is the Barker struck both the small boat and the bridge moments apart: "A coal ship more than 700 feet long flattened a small boat that was tied up on the edge of the Fox River outside his restaurant, then struck the Ray Nitschke Memorial Bridge, putting the span out of commission for more than three hours."
greenbaypressgazette.com

Bridge In Green Bay

Posted: July 16, 2017, 9:36 pm
by Sam
Don't understand this mishap completely. Did a small boat run into the Barker after it hit the Bridge?