The 73 foot long fishing vessel Carolina Girl 3 went aground near the entrance to the St. Johns River at Jacksonville, Florida. The fishing vessel had suffered water ingress and was risk of sinking when the crew intentionally ran the vessel ashore. The Coast Guard was contacted and dispatched a 45-foot motor lifeboat to the scene. The lifeboat crew provided pumps which were able to de-water the vessel. No reports of injuries.
The 165 meter long, 23587 dwt ro-ro cargo vessel USS Harry L. Martin allided with the Mathews Bridge on the St. Johns River at Jacksonville, Florida. A tug was towing the Martin at the time when the Martin’s stern ramp struck the central span. No reports of injuries. The bridge suffered significant damage and all road traffic has been suspended. State authorities plan to send out inspectors to look at the damage and make a determination of the structure.
Authorities have placed a safety zone around the bridge and no river traffic is being permitted. A river pilot was on board at the time of the incident. The Martin was being towed to a ship yard in Jacksonville.
On December 26, a barge allided with the Townsend Inlet Bridge near Avalon, Florida. The barge had broken its mooring lines and drifted by the tide and wind until it struck the bridge. The barge suffered little damage while the bridge’s fenders and a navigation light were damaged. Reports state the damage is over 100,000 dollars. The navigation light was quickly replaced. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On December 29, a barge loaded with 400 tons of stone went aground off Hampton Bays, New York. The barge was being towed to a nearby project when it stranded. Local salvagers plan to dig around the barge with excavators and have a tugboat pull the barge free on the next high tide. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
