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NS seeks $5 million from tug owners for Norfolk, VA bridge damage


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 April 2015 - 12:44 PM

NS Intermodal Customer Alert:

 

Norfolk, VA Bridge Incident Blocking Route in/out of Norfolk (Portlock) Facility

 

Apr 26, 2015

 

At 7:20am this morning, a barge struck bridge #7 in Norfolk, VA knocking it out of alignment and blocking the route into and out of the Norfolk (Portlock) Intermodal facility.

 

At this time, the below intermodal trains are being impacted:

    23G-24 (Louisville to Norfolk/NIT)
    236-25 (Columbus to Norfolk/NIT)

 

NS personnel and equipment are enroute to make repairs.  While there is no firm ETA at this time, the bridge is expected to remain out of service until sometime tomorrow.  We will provide customer updates as the recovery efforts get underway.

 

Please contact Intermodal Customer Service at 800-497-2919 for any additional information or logon to accessNS for shipment updates.

 

 



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 April 2015 - 12:46 PM

NS Intermodal Customer Alert:

 

Norfolk, VA Bridge Incident Blocking Route in/out of Norfolk (Portlock) and Norfolk International Terminals - UPDATE

 

At 7:20am this morning, a barge struck bridge #7 in Norfolk, VA knocking it out of alignment and blocking the route into and out of the Norfolk (Portlock) Intermodal facility and Norfolk International Terminals.

 

At this time, the below inbound intermodal trains are being held enroute:

    23G-24 (Louisville to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    23G-25 (Louisville to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    234-24 (Chicago Landers to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    234-25 (Chicago Landers to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    236-25 (Columbus to APMT/NIT)

 

The following trains will not run:

    233-26 (NIT/Norfolk to Landers)
    227-26 (NIT/Norfolk to Harrisburg)

 

While there is no firm ETA for completion of repairs at this time, the bridge is expected to remain out of service at least until late tomorrow evening.  We will provide customer updates as the recovery effort progresses.

 

Please contact Intermodal Customer Service at 800-497-2919 for any additional information or logon to accessNS for shipment updates.

 

 



#3 CNJRoss

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Posted 27 April 2015 - 07:34 PM

NS intermodal customer alert:

 

Norfolk, VA Bridge Incident Blocking Route in/out of Norfolk (Portlock) and Norfolk International Terminals – UPDATE

 

Apr 27, 2015

 

Repairs on bridge #7 in Norfolk, VA continue following yesterday’s barge incident.  The bridge which was knocked out of alignment blocking the route into and out of the Norfolk (Portlock) Intermodal facility and Norfolk International Terminals is estimated to return to service by 7:00pm EDT today.

 

At this time, the below inbound intermodal trains are being held enroute:

    23G-24 (Louisville to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    23G-25 (Louisville to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    234-24 (Chicago Landers to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    234-25 (Chicago Landers to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    236-25 (Columbus to APMT/NIT)

 

Based on the current bridge repair estimate, we expect to run normal outbound train service today from Norfolk and Norfolk International terminals.  We will provide additional customer updates as the recovery effort progresses.

 



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 28 April 2015 - 10:12 AM

NS intermodal shipper alert:
 

Norfolk, VA Bridge Back in Service - Route in/out of Norfolk (Portlock) and Norfolk International Terminals Restored

 

Apr 27, 2015

 

Bridge #7 in Norfolk, VA is back in service following yesterday’s barge incident which blocked the route into and out of the Norfolk (Portlock) Intermodal facility and Norfolk International Terminals.

 

The following intermodal trains have arrived at destination:

    23G-24 (Louisville to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    236-25 (Columbus to APMT/NIT)

 

The following trains which were held enroute are expected to arrive at destination overnight.  Customers are advised to monitor grounding notifications before dispatching any drivers.

 

    23G-25 (Louisville to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    234-24 (Chicago Landers to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)
    234-25 (Chicago Landers to Norfolk/APMT/NIT)

 

Normal outbound train service will resume from Norfolk (Portlock) and Norfolk International Terminals.

 



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 May 2015 - 06:06 AM

The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, VA, 5/22:
 

Railroad seeks $5 million from tug owners for bridge damage

 

Nearly a month after a barge on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River struck and damaged a key rail bridge in Chesapeake owned by Norfolk Southern Corp., the railroad has filed a lawsuit against two tugboats and their owners.

 

The suit, filed this week in Norfolk federal court against St. Augustine, Fla.-based Tradewinds Towing LLC and Chesapeake-based Intracoastal Marine Inc., respective owners of the tugs Simone and Maverick, seeks up to $5 million in damages.

 

SNIP

 

"Bridge 7 has been extensively damaged, including destruction of the fender system," according to the suit, which accuses the two tug companies of negligence and breach of duty. "Norfolk Southern has incurred and may continue to incur extensive damages due to the cessation of all bridge traffic, both coal and passenger, necessary for implementing temporary and/or permanent repairs."

 

More here.



#6 CNJRoss

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Posted 13 October 2016 - 01:51 PM

NTSB Marine Accident Brief DCA15LM021, 9/14/16:

 

Allision of Barge Gayle Force, Under Tow by Tugboat Simone, with Norfolk Southern Bridge #7

 

 

At 0720 on April 26, 2015, the barge Gayle Force struck the unmanned Norfolk Southern Railway Bridge #7 (NS#7) on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, Virginia, while being towed by the tugboat Simone. The allision caused $1.8 million in damage to the bridge and stopped rail traffic for nearly 36 hours. Damage to the barge was negligible. No one was injured, and there was no pollution associated with the accident.

 

SNIP

 

Accident Analysis  

Inadequate planning, preparation, or information were frequent causes of bridge allisions cited in a 2003 US Coast Guard/American Waterways Operators (AWO) Bridge Allision Work Group report, and in 2013 the AWO required member towing companies to adopt bridge transit procedures under its Responsible Carrier Program (RCP).  The Simone’s company, an AWO member, provided a Vessel Policy and Procedures Manual containing a detailed section for bridge transits. This section was subdivided into three subsections titled “Before the Transit,” “Safety Briefing,” and “During the Transit.” These subsections enumerated what the watch officer in charge of the transit must take into account for a safe bridge transit and what instructions should be provided to the crew on the towing vessel and any assist vessel.

 

The instructions included:

  • briefing the crew on their specific duties, 
  • discussing unique characteristics of the tow, including blind spots and the location of the crew and assist tugboat, and
  • determining the tow configuration best suited to transit bridges safely “including the use of assist boats if utilized.”  

The Simone captain did not plan for the bridge transit in accordance with his company’s policies and procedures. He did not have a clear view astern, so he relied on the mate to assist him in properly aligning the tow for the passage. But he gave no instruction to the mate. The tugboat Maverick was provided to assist the tow for the bridge transits of the Elizabeth River, yet the captain of Simone did not use the assist tugboat or ask for the Maverick captain’s advice despite the latter’s extensive experience in these waters. The Maverick captain was not given any directions, and the assist tugboat was placed in a location where his view was obstructed.

 

Furthermore, Simone’s captain did not review Coast Pilot 3 prior to getting under way. As a result of inadequate planning, he did not take into account the current set in the vicinity of the bridge. 

 

Although the company had procedures in place regarding bridge transits, it did not have a system for verifying its crews were following those procedures. Sound company policies and guidance are only effective if they are practiced. If the captain had planned and briefed the bridge transit as required, it may have prevented the allision.

 

Probable Cause

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the allision of the barge Gayle Force with the Norfolk Southern Bridge #7 was the Simone captain’s failure to plan for the bridge transit and effectively use the assist tugboat.

 

 

 
Dictionary.com:
 
allision [uh-lizh-uh n] - noun, Law.
1.  the striking of one ship by another.





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