Two fishing trawlers hit the Demerara Harbour Bridge this afternoon, after a strong tide broke them loose from their moorings at the Georgetown Ferry Stelling.
Around 3pm this afternoon, the ropes which held the “Noble Sun” and the “Lady Sue” to the stelling were snapped by the increasing force of the tide, resulting in them drifting downstream before hitting into the bridge.
Rawlston Adams, General Manager of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, told Stabroek News that the damage done was minimal. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic briefly but reopened soon after the incident. Traffic was drawn to crawl as staff monitored the situation.
Adams said that an assessment would be undertaken when the two vessels are removed after this evening when the tide changes.
The incident comes just over two months after a small section of the bridge sank, after the jaws of one of the piers supporting two temporary pontoons at the bridge broke, resulting in its closure for two days and disrupting traffic between regions Three and Four.
With the accident highlighting the poor state of the bridge—which has been plagued by mechanical problems as it nears the end of its lifespan— Cabinet Secretary Dr Roger Luncheon had announced that a pre-feasibility study for replacing it is expected to be ready by year end.
Luncheon said the study would examine the viability of an underground tunnel, an above ground fixed bridge or another floating bridge.