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Boat Hits Bridge (Again) #293692
01/10/2023 10:32 AM
01/10/2023 10:32 AM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,580
M
MotownTim Offline OP
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A friend sent me a video of a yacht hitting the bridge on Sunday. Probably in the Herald. According to 721 news the booth suffered damage.

SXM Sponsors
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293693
01/10/2023 10:35 AM
01/10/2023 10:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 399
Detroit
bluejacket Offline
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Detroit
Here is a link to the video from the Herald. Link

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293702
01/10/2023 11:57 AM
01/10/2023 11:57 AM
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 157
Arlen, TX
BillDauterive Offline
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Arlen, TX

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293704
01/10/2023 12:13 PM
01/10/2023 12:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Auburn, WA

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: BillDauterive] #293705
01/10/2023 12:14 PM
01/10/2023 12:14 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Not the boat's fault!! laugh Really pretty boat!


Carol Hill
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293739
01/10/2023 09:57 PM
01/10/2023 09:57 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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Auburn, WA
Temporary Closure to Motorized, Maritime Traffic and Pedestrians of Simpson Bay Bridge on Thursday at 4:00 AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, January 10, 2022

PORT ST. MAARTEN – The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority (SLAC) would like to inform vehicle drivers that the Simpson Bay Bridge will be temporarily closed for motorized traffic, as well as pedestrians and maritime traffic on Thursday, January 12 at 4:00AM.

Anyone in the area at that time should exercise extreme caution as heavy equipment will be in operation.

Drivers can make use of the Causeway Bridge to reach their destination.

The closure is in connection with the removal of the damaged Operations Control Booth.

A Mega Yacht while entering the Simpson Bay Lagoon struck the SLAC Operations Control Booth on Sunday, January 8 which incurred severe structural damage.

There were no injuries to the bridge operator. Wires leading to the operations consoles were also damaged, but the bridge remains in operation for maritime traffic.

# # #

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293742
01/11/2023 06:43 AM
01/11/2023 06:43 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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Colour1  Offline
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I saw the video. This is going to be a mess to fix! I feel really bad for all those businesses on Airport road from the bridge back to the Causeway!!

Attached Files SMYC bridge 10-22.jpg

Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Colour1] #293747
01/11/2023 07:20 AM
01/11/2023 07:20 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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St Maarten
What do you think will be the impact on "all those businesses on Airport road from the bridge back to the Causeway"?


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293749
01/11/2023 07:38 AM
01/11/2023 07:38 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,490
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Zanshin  Offline
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Grenada
This is the second time it has happened. The bridge is working, and last time they just covered the booth with a tarp for months until it was replaced. This closure is just to remove the broken structure. So the interruption will most likely be limited to morning rush-hour traffic.


[Linked Image]
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293771
01/11/2023 11:50 AM
01/11/2023 11:50 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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Auburn, WA
Todays Herald article. LINK

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: BillandElaine] #293844
01/12/2023 08:01 AM
01/12/2023 08:01 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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Westchester /NYC
Eliane, coming from Beacon Hill/Maho to the roundabout they would have to drive in as far as they could. Then turn around. As is the traffic in that stretch is tight with cars pulling out of the parking spaces. Where as coming from the other side of the bridge through Cole bay, not so bad because there's no cars parked along the street in spaces. IMHO.


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Colour1] #293845
01/12/2023 08:04 AM
01/12/2023 08:04 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 18,560
St Maarten
BillandElaine Offline
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BillandElaine  Offline
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St Maarten
HUH? Who cares at 4 am in the morning?


Elaine
*********************************
God Bless the broken road....
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293850
01/12/2023 09:15 AM
01/12/2023 09:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 96
New Fairfield, CT
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Tonythepilot Online content
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New Fairfield, CT
Maybe the booth needs to be rebuilt a little farther from the edge?

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Tonythepilot] #293854
01/12/2023 10:22 AM
01/12/2023 10:22 AM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Online content
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SXMBND  Online Content
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
Winner......winner.....chicken dinner....

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Tonythepilot] #293860
01/12/2023 12:15 PM
01/12/2023 12:15 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,398
Peaceful Eastern North Carolin...
GaKaye Offline
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Originally Posted by Tonythepilot
Maybe the booth needs to be rebuilt a little farther from the edge?


Maybe the booth is where it is so that the bridge operator can see the boats entering or exiting? It would be pretty bad if he lowered the bridge while one was heading in or out.

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: GaKaye] #293861
01/12/2023 12:17 PM
01/12/2023 12:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
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Originally Posted by GaKaye
Originally Posted by Tonythepilot
Maybe the booth needs to be rebuilt a little farther from the edge?


Maybe the booth is where it is so that the bridge operator can see the boats entering or exiting? It would be pretty bad if he lowered the bridge while one was heading in or out.

The real Winner......winner.....chicken dinner....

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: GaKaye] #293863
01/12/2023 12:36 PM
01/12/2023 12:36 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
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SXMBND Online content
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South Coast of MA
Originally Posted by GaKaye
Originally Posted by Tonythepilot
Maybe the booth needs to be rebuilt a little farther from the edge?


Maybe the booth is where it is so that the bridge operator can see the boats entering or exiting? It would be pretty bad if he lowered the bridge while one was heading in or out.


And a couple of strategically placed mirrors would easily remedy that.

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Tonythepilot] #293878
01/12/2023 05:40 PM
01/12/2023 05:40 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 56
Bucks County, PA
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Marie Offline
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Marie  Offline
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Bucks County, PA
No, don’t move the booth. if you can afford a boat like that you can afford to hire a real captain who knows how to steer the boat away from damaging any structures. Boats like that have bow thrusters and probably a stern thrusters.

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Marie] #293884
01/12/2023 07:27 PM
01/12/2023 07:27 PM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,258
Kennys Offline
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Kennys  Offline
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Thank you.

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #293889
01/13/2023 07:55 AM
01/13/2023 07:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 96
New Fairfield, CT
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Tonythepilot Online content
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New Fairfield, CT
I'm sure the booth was originally built before TV cameras and monitors were so common and inexpensive. The booth does not need to have direct line of sight to function. Operator could be quite remote.

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Tonythepilot] #293893
01/13/2023 09:50 AM
01/13/2023 09:50 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
tony--with the way things work in SXM, if they did that, the cameras would go down and then they wouldn't be able to operate the bridge...


Carol Hill
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Carol_Hill] #293897
01/13/2023 12:13 PM
01/13/2023 12:13 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,564
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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Originally Posted by Carol_Hill
tony--with the way things work in SXM, if they did that, the cameras would go down and then they wouldn't be able to operate the bridge...

So true.

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Marie] #293920
01/13/2023 06:54 PM
01/13/2023 06:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,490
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Zanshin  Offline
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Grenada
@Marie -
Those captains are among the best in the world. Even with bow and stern thrusters there is a limit when you have no steerage and wind. What people don't realize is that both the strong current and the wind can make an entry or exit through that narrow passage extremely difficult. Often those big yachts need a certain speed to make it through with sufficient steerage, but someone ahead of them is too slow and suddenly the boat is "behind the curve" and has absolutely no chance of not making contact. Even with a mortal-sized yacht, if the current is with you and the wind is across, you need a lot of speed and if the boat(s) ahead of you it is gnarly to go through. I've had that happen to me before; and I'm not even close to the tonnage/windage of those big boats.

Last edited by Zanshin; 01/13/2023 06:55 PM.

[Linked Image]
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Zanshin] #293935
01/14/2023 09:38 AM
01/14/2023 09:38 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,772
So. Shore MA.
jollymonsrv Offline
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So. Shore MA.
Great analogy of difficulty in navigation

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #294016
01/15/2023 07:34 PM
01/15/2023 07:34 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,490
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Zanshin  Offline
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Posts: 2,490
Grenada
I arrived in SXM today after a long sail from Antigua, and after clearing C&I I walked to the SMYC. While at the ATM getting US$ I talked a megayacht officer and he told me that the ship in question has azimuth pods and a combination of equipment issues, strong current, side wind and a vessel stopping in front of them was what led to the incident.

Here's a picture of what they've replaced the booth with:
[Linked Image]

Last edited by Zanshin; 01/15/2023 07:37 PM.

[Linked Image]
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Zanshin] #294017
01/15/2023 07:55 PM
01/15/2023 07:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 795
Ontario Canada
Whale Tail Offline
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Ontario Canada
Looks pretty sturdy? But I think the operator is going to need an umbrella laugh

Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #294019
01/15/2023 08:47 PM
01/15/2023 08:47 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,490
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Zanshin  Offline
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Grenada
I was raining today at the last 17:00 opening and as soon as the bridge was open he disappeared and headed for shelter.


[Linked Image]
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: Zanshin] #294020
01/15/2023 08:55 PM
01/15/2023 08:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Zanshin--thanks for your input from the 'ship' standpoint and for the pics. Are you in SXM until Regatta?


Carol Hill
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #294033
01/16/2023 07:08 AM
01/16/2023 07:08 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,490
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Zanshin  Offline
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Posts: 2,490
Grenada
@Carol_Hill - I'll be here for a week or so (supplies & boat parts) and then plan on spending a week or two in St. Kitts / Nevis / St. Eustatius before returning. But I will be here for the Regatta.
The protection bars do look solid, but soon there'll be another hut protecting the equipment, if not the operator.


[Linked Image]
Re: Boat Hits Bridge (Again) [Re: MotownTim] #294045
01/16/2023 09:57 AM
01/16/2023 09:57 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,469
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Central Florida!
Thanks, Zanshin!


Carol Hill

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