Contact made by general cargo vessel Prudence with railway bridge
Location: Goole Railway Bridge, River Ouse, England.
Completed PE Summary: Prudence
A short summary of the accident and action taken:
| Merchant Vessel/Accident Details | |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Prudence |
| Registered Owner/Manager | Amasus Support BV |
| Port of Registry | Delfzijl |
| Flag | Netherlands |
| Type | General cargo |
| Built | 1998 |
| Classification Society | Bureau Veritas |
| Construction | Steel |
| Length Overall | 81.99m |
| Gross Tonnage | 1556 |
| Date/Time | 24 February 2007, 2350 (UTC) |
| Location of Incident | Goole Railway Bridge, River Ouse |
| Persons Onboard | 6 crew, 1 pilot |
| Injuries/Fatalities | None |
| Damage/Pollution | Extensive damage to vessel and bridge |
Synopsis
The general cargo vessel Prudence was bound for the port of Howdendyke on the upper reaches of the River Ouse, carrying 1600 tonnes of fertiliser. A river pilot was embarked at the entrance to the River Ouse for the last phase of the voyage. He was familiar with the vessel and took the wheel for the passage up the river.
It was a calm, clear night and although it was very dark, visibility was good. As the vessel approached the Goole railway bridge, the pilot had difficulty establishing his position to pass through the bridge’s Eastern channel. The vessel struck the central bridge piling on the port bow and veered off making further contact with the Eastern piling. The pilot was able to manouevre the vessel clear and berth safely at Howdendyke.
There was extensive damage to vessel’s shell plating and frames at the port bow, damage and penetration of the port wing tanks aft of midships position. The central and Eastern bridge pilings were displaced, hydraulic control systems severed and the bridge placed out of service to rail traffic for approximately 12 hours.
Action taken
The Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents has written to the Competent Harbour Authority highlighting its responsibilities under the Port Marine Safety Code and advising them to investigate additional navigational aids to improve the safety of vessels transiting through the bridge.