No one is hurt after a bulk carrier ship had a mechanical issue Monday afternoon in the St. Joseph River harbor and made contact with the wooden fendering surrounding the CSX Railroad bridge.
St. Joseph Harbormaster Mike Moran says the Manitowoc was inbound when it developed an issue with its bow thruster. The bow thruster is a sideways propeller in the bow or front of the vessel to allow for easier maneuvering in close quarters.
As a result of the problem, the freighter struck the fencing around the bridge. However, the bridge itself wasn’t damaged.
The Manitowoc was able to resolve its issue and stop at Dock 63 to unload its cargo. It’s carrying 15,300 tons of gravel.
CSX Railroad reported its bridge mechanic conducted an inspection of the bridge and found no damage to the bridge itself and minor scrapes to the protective wooden fencing.
Various tests and safety checks were performed by the crew while the ship unloaded its cargo of gravel. Shortly after midnight, The Manitowoc carefully maneuvered back out of the harbor and into the Lake.
