Coast Guard issues report on Mathews Bridge collision

1 year ago, Navy cargo ship hit bridge, closed it for weeks

The ship that struck the bridge was the USNS Harry L. Martin, a Sealift Command vessel that was being moved from one part of the North Florida Shipyards to another.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Coast Guard in Jacksonville has issued a preliminary report on the collision between a Navy cargo ship and the Mathews Bridge that happened one year ago Friday.

The ship was being towed at the time, and the collision put the bridge out of commission for more than a month, causing all kinds of commuter headaches.

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Information gathered after the accident showed the "airgap" under the Mathews Bridge was 149 feet, which is 3 feet lower than the previously published airgap.

The Navy ship, the Harry L. Martin, was also found to be 5 feet taller than the information provided to ship operators.

DOCUMENT: Coast Guard report on collision | IMAGES: Ship hits Mathews Bridge | 
RELATED: Bridge closure creates traffic nightmare | Witness describes ship hitting bridge

So the tug boat master thought he had 8 feet more clearance under the bridge.

Eight safety recommendations were made, and the Coast Guard agreed with one of those: to have the Military Sealift Command ensure all vessels converted from commercial service have accurate, up to date construction plans on file.

Another recommendation, which the Coast Guard partially concurred with, was to have the Florida Department of Transportation survey all bridges to make sure the reported heights are accurate.