THE management of the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB) is assessing damage done to the structure after a derelict vessel slammed into the side of the bridge Thursday morning.General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Corporation (DHBC), Rawlston Adams, told the Guyana Chronicle on Thursday morning that the vessel lost its anchor and drifted into the bridge.
The incident occurred around 06:00hrs, closer to the western side of the bridge at Schoonord, staff told this newspaper yesterday. The vessel, which was tied to the shore upriver from the bridge prior to the incident, carries the number TS52535.
Adams said they were still trying to determine the owner of the vessel yesterday. He said that two buoys were dislodged during the incident. The vessel was later hauled from under the bridge after it was lodged on the structure on impact. However, he added, the incident had no impact on the flow of traffic on the bridge.
The incident is being investigated by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD).
In the past, there have been instances where vessels drifted into the bridge with the most recent being in March, when the Ocean ATUN No. 66 drifted with the tide and slammed into the bridge.
The vessel was moored closer to the mouth of the Demerara River at the time.