… commuters urged to take note

THE Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) will be closed to vehicular traffic from approximately 21:30 hrs tomorrow night until approximately 04:00 hrs on Thursday morning, in order to facilitate critical remedial works which have become necessary when the bridge suffered serious damage after a fuel tanker slammed into its structure on Sunday morning.DHB General Manager, Rawlston Adams made this announcement at a press conference held yesterday afternoon, wherein he disclosed that the pilot of the vessel involved in the accident had failed to follow the directions of the bridge traffic controllers.
The vessel slammed into the bridge and caused it to go out of line, precipitating the decision not to retract the bridge until certain works have been completed. It therefore means that the first retraction for the bridge after that incident will be on Thursday morning, provided that the works to be undertaken are successfully completed.
Mr Adams told the media that it would be risky attempting to retract the bridge, since it may likely encounter challenges in closing.
Among the works which have to be carried out on the bridge itself and other supporting facilities as a result of the accident are locating and fixing two clusters (the piles which were driven to protect the retractor span); fixing of four connecting posts; and remedial works to a damaged pontoon and the anchorage, which has also been compromised.
According to GM Adams, once the timing of the DHB personnel have agreed to is strictly observed, and work go as planned, everything should return to normalcy by the scheduled time of Thursday morning; since all the materials for the remedial work are in stock.
He said the DHB has stocked the requisite items in the event of occurrences such as Sunday morning’s. No cost has as yet been placed on the works, since an investigation has to be launched. However, Adams told the media that the company which owns the vessel has committed to paying for the damage.
The vessel is not registered locally; it was rented by the Guyana National Shipping Company (GNSC), although the pilot at the time was a Guyanese.
In recapping what was reported on the morning in question, Adams said there was one vessel scheduled to transit the bridge at 05:00 hrs, but at about 04:55 hrs, the vessel’s pilot was instructed to prepare to transit, and at approximately 05:15 hrs the bridge had been fully retracted and the captain was instructed to transit.
However, as the direction to transit the bridge was communicated to the pilot, it was observed that he was not in the required position to transit the bridge, and he was advised to orientate his position, since he was approaching the bridge in a diagonal (crossway) position.
However, after receiving that caution and advice from the traffic controllers, the pilot reportedly ignored the advice, stating: “I know what I (am) doing!” He was again advised against continuing to approach the bridge from the position he was using, but again responded, “I know what I doing!” even while the vessel was about 800 metres from the bridge.
Even when the vessel was about 500 metres from the bridge, it still had not changed position, and the pilot was again advised to properly position the vessel. Immediately after his reluctance, the vessel hit the first cluster (set of piles positioned to protect the retractor span), and its engines were not engaged.
After that impact, efforts were made to engage the engine, but by that time the vessel had already hit the second cluster, sending them below the water as the vessel slammed into the bridge. The damage to the bridge was done to its north-western section.
The works are significant and must be done to ensure the safety of the public, according to Adams. Since Sunday’s incident, no vessel has been able to transit the bridge; and thus far, two requests to transit the bridge have been denied.
In absence of the two clusters, which are now below the water’s surface, DHB management intends to approach Management of the Berbice River Bridge (BCCI) to assist with the use of at least two buoys to guide vessels away from the retractor span. The incident is being investigated by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
Adams said the DHB management has decided on Wednesday night to have the works done on the bridge, since this allows enough time for persons to know the situation and make proper arrangements not to be affected by the ongoing works.
He explained that the DHB has not suffered a revenue loss resulting from the delays on Sunday and the setbacks until Thursday. He explained that the situation has caused more of an economic loss to the country, since affected persons have been unable to use their time to engage in economic activities.
He said the bridge is the only means by which vehicles cross the Demerara River, and if persons have been unable to cross at one period, they would use an alternative period; which means that the bridge was still used, and revenue has still been generated.

(By Leroy Smith)