1972 — Nov 7, freighter hits Sidney Lanier Bridge, span collapse, cars fall, Brunswick GA-10

— 10 USCG. Marine Casualty Report. SS African Neptune: Collison with…Bridge…
— 10 NTSB. Select NTSB Investigations into Bridge Collapses/ Collisions.

Narrative Information

USCG/NTSB Abstract: “On the evening of November 7, 1972, the SS African Neptune departed the State Docks at Brunswick, Ga. About 13 minutes later, the ship struck the Sidney Lanier Bridge at a point about 350 feet south of the channel centerline. Three sections of the bridge and 10 vehicles waiting to pass over the span fell into the river. As a result, 10 persons died and 11 were injured, and the bridge, part of U.S. Route 17, was closed to highway traffic for about 6 months. Repair costs amounted to about $1,300,000. Damage to the ship was relatively minor.

“This report contains the action taken by the National Transportation Safety Board in determining the probable cause of the casualty and in making recommendations to prevent its recurrence. The report also contains the Marine Board of Investigation report and the action taken by the Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard.

“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the collision of the SS African Neptune with the Sidney Lanier Bridge was (1) the failure of the helmsman to apply the correct rudder in response to two helm orders; (2) the failure of the third mate, master, and pilot to discover the first error; and (3) the delay by the third mate, master, and pilot in detecting the second error.” (p. i.)

Newspaper

Nov 8, Associated Press: Brunswick, Ga. (AP) – At least five persons were dead and six more were missing early today after a loaded freighter, the African Neptune slammed into the side of the Sidney Lanier bridge and plunged a number of cars 80 feet into the Brunswick River. The ship missed the raised draw-span of the mile-long bridge Tuesday night as it headed out of port behind a swift outbound tide. A honeymooning couple and relatives of a defeated candidate for sheriff of Glynn County were among the dead, missing and injured.

“The crash downed two spans on the south end of the graceful 16-year-old bridge and badly damaged the prow of the freighter.

“The ship’s crew apparently tried to avert the collision by dropping anchor, but the anchor did not hold. A crew member later told the U.S. Coast Guard there was a steering failure as the freighter headed through the draw-span.

“Roscoe Tanner, draw-span operator, said the freighter missed by several hundred yards and ‘went plumb through’ the bridge’s south side. ‘It was pitch black,’ said D. J. Moore, a mechanical maintenance engineer.

“Mrs. Mary Donal, 21, and her new husband, Albert Donal, 36, of Roslyn, Pa., were just returning from a 10-day honeymoon in Florida when their car stopped behind a line of cars on the bridge. She said her husband got out of the car and went to the bridge rail to see what was wrong. He was walking back when the ‘bridge fell out from under us.’ ‘I can’t swim,’ Mrs. Donal said. ‘I was trapped in the car a couple of minutes. I got out. The window was open on the driver’s side. I guess I was treading water. I don’t know. ‘All I heard was a lot of crashing, a lot of screaming.’ She said someone from a boat threw a life preserver to her and hauled her aboard after about a half hour in the water. She thought her husband had been killed, but when she got to the emergency room at Glynn-Brunswick Memorial Hospital she found him only a few feet away. Donal was admitted for treatment of a slight concussion, abrasions and bruises and his wife was admitted for treatment of trauma and aspiration of water. They were both reported in good condition.

“On the bridge, which is part of U.S. 17, an off-duty policeman, B. J. Chancelor, who saw the smashup ran over and began waving other cars to a halt.

“Darkness hampered initial rescue efforts, but helicopters and divers were called into help local rescue units. Bob Sapp, vice chairman of the Brunswick Port Authority, said ‘tugs, shrimp boats, ambulances, anything we can get’ were aiding in the search.

“Gov. Jimmy Carter flew into Brunswick late Tuesday night as the ship was brought to the state docks. Carter went aboard and talked to the captain who he identified as F. Stanejko. The ship, loaded with naval stores, is operated by Terrell Lines of New York. ‘The captain said he hadn’t determined the exact cause of the collision.’ Carter said. ‘It is a terrible thing. The captain feels very badly.’ Carter arrived with state Highway Director Bert Lance and Public Safety Commission Ray Pope after ordering state agencies to give every assistance. Lance said about 450 feet of the mile-long bridge fell into the water. He said three 150 foot spans were knocked out.” (Aiken Standard, SC. “Loaded Freighter Crashes Into Brunswick, Ga. Bridge.” 11-8-1972, 8B.)

Sources

Aiken Standard, SC. “Loaded Freighter Crashes Into Brunswick, Ga. Bridge.” 11-8-1972, 8B. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/aiken-standard/1972-11-08/page-18/

National Transportation Safety Board. Select NTSB Investigations into Bridge Collapses/ Collisions. Washington, DC: NTSB, 4-25-2009. Accessed at: http://www.ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2007/Investig_bridge-collapses_080307.pdf

U.S. Coast Guard. Marine Casualty Report. SS African Neptune: Collison with the Sidney Lanier Bridge at Brunswick, Georgia on November 1972 with Loss of Life (U.S. Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation Report. Action by National Transportation Safety Board. Washington, DC USCG/NTSB, 7-22-1974. Accessed 1-20-2022 at: https://maritimesafetyinnovationlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/USCG-SS-African-Neptune-Bridge-Allision-November-1972.pdf