Inshore Cruise Boat Pinned to Bridge

[j-d]

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jso-jacksonville-bridge-closed-due-to-boat-accident/470467919

No injuries or apparent damage. Bridge was closed awhile. We were part of the safety zone for fireworks following the lighting of a Christmas Tree. AMERICAN STAR was maneuvering to moor just downstream of the bridge. The flooding tide pushed them upstream to the bridge. Ninety passengers, crew count not reported.

Festivities went off without delay.

This 850-HP tug pulled STAR off the bridge structure

 

[PascalG]

Never under estimate a current !!

 

[j-d]

Happy Holidays, Pascal! I thought you'd jump on this one. If I hear they had an engineering or steering casualty, I'll let you know. American Cruise Lines has several of these boats, all less than about 15 years old. STAR is less than 10. I didn't see where she's equipped with thrusters.
An ACL vessel is often moored downtown for events like this.

Shahid Kahn's KISMET was also there, moored upstream of that bridge in a relatively restricted area between two downtown Jacksonville bridges. KISMET didn't seem to be hung up on anything. She's 94-meters.

 

[RussR]

Yes - the American STAR does have bow thrusters - we were in St. Augustine when she docked Thursday AM. We could hear & feel them thru our hull a hundred yards away. At least in St. Augustine, the captain made a very slow & very controlled docking - smooth as silk.