The Windoc blocks the canal. Alex Howard
In August 2001 the Bulk Carrier Windoc was lined up on the Welland Canal’s Bridge 11 in Ontario Canada. After recieving the flashing amber approach light indicating that the bridge operator was aware of the vessel the captain lined up on the centerline and maintained a speed of 5 knots. Minutes later while the vessel was half way through the bridge started descending.
The Bridge Team’s Story
When the vessel was approximately halfway under the bridge, the third officer observed that the bridge signal lights were solid red and the lift span was descending. At 2053, the master sounded a few blasts on the ship’s whistle. The master, without identifying himself or the bridge in question, called the TCC on VHF channel 14 about the lowering of the bridge. The master quickly stopped the engines and ordered an evacuation of the wheelhouse.The master and third officer left the wheelhouse by the starboard navigation bridge wing. As they proceeded down the external bridge access ladder, the span of the bridge struck the vessel in way of the wheelhouse front windows, subsequently destroying the vessel’s wheelhouse and funnel. The wheelsman remained at his station in the wheelhouse and lay down on the deck as the bridge span passed overhead. He freed himself from the debris and descended by the deckhouse stairwell alive.
Miraculously no one was killed in the event.
For detailed information on the incident visit:
- Transportation Safety Board (TSB) of Canada’s Report
- The TSB’s brief synopsis
- TSB Photos of the incident.
- Huge list of Windoc Related Photos
- Photos of the bridge before incident.
Damage To The Wheelhouse
Remains of the Ship’s Radar
The Windoc During Better Days:
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15 responses so far ↓
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12 chris // Jan 17, 2008 at 10:29 am
Pic of “Windoc in better days” is a different vessel than the vessel in the bridge accident. It has a forward bridge where as the accident vessel had an after bridge.
13 John // Jan 17, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Crap…. I need an editor! Thanks Chris!!
14 vicki s. singh // Mar 13, 2008 at 9:07 am
i signed the petition on march 11, 2008 and it listed me as anonomous which i wanted my name listed. I am the high school history teacher so please correct it. save the whale petition - thanks vicki s.singh
15 Maritime Monday 108 | gCaptain.com // Apr 28, 2008 at 6:14 am
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