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Bridge Pier Protection from Ship Impact

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Marine Structures Engineering: Specialized Applications

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Abstract

On May 9, 1980 during an intense early morning thunderstorm, low visibility, and high wind conditions, the empty 40 000DWT bulk carrier MV “Summit Venture” collided with one of the anchor piers of the twin Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay, Florida. Ship impact caused a 396-m section of the southbound main span to collapse with subsequent loss of 35 lives. The most recent catastrophic event of this kind in the United States has occurred in September, 1993 in Mobile, Alabama. There the barge hit the bridge pier that allegedly resulted in displacement of the rail included in the train track*. This was followed by derailment of the passenger train, which resulted in the loss of 45 lives. Unfortunately these tragic events are only two of many.

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  1. Gregory P. Tsinker Ph.D., P.E.
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Tsinker, G.P. (1995). Bridge Pier Protection from Ship Impact. In: Marine Structures Engineering: Specialized Applications. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2081-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2081-8_7

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