AWO Expresses Remote Drawbridge Safety Concerns
The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed allowing CSX Transportation to remotely operate five drawbridges serving commercial waterways in Mississippi and Alabama, prompting renewed safety concerns from The American Waterways Operators.
The proposed rule would allow bridge tenders to operate the bridges from CSX’s remote control center in Mobile, Ala., rather than from the individual bridge locations. The bridges are located across Bay St. Louis, the Back Bay of Biloxi and the Pascagoula River in Mississippi, and Three Mile Creek and Chickasaw Creek in Alabama.
Under the proposal, vessels would continue to request bridge openings by VHF-FM Channel 13 or telephone. The bridges generally would be maintained in the open-to-navigation position if a remote system, communications or other required safety system fails, or if the remote operator cannot adequately identify vessels.
The proposal comes as the Coast Guard continues to consider remote and automated bridge operations across the country. AWO has urged the Coast Guard to strengthen oversight of such operations and investigate previous incidents before authorizing additional remote systems.
Through its Bridge Event Reporting Program, AWO and the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association collect reports from members involving near misses, delays, incomplete or early bridge openings and other navigation concerns. The program is intended to identify recurring safety issues and provide information to the Coast Guard and bridge operators.
AWO recently submitted comments on Coast Guard proposals involving remote operation of Union Pacific Railroad bridges in Texas. The organization said remote and automated bridge operations require comprehensive safety protocols and thorough investigations of incidents and near misses before additional systems are authorized.
The Coast Guard’s CSX proposal follows earlier testing of remote bridge operations. The agency’s proposed regulations include provisions intended to return bridge-tender operations to the bridge location under certain circumstances, including failures of remote systems or when directed by the Coast Guard.
The proposed rule was scheduled for publication in the Federal Register October 7, with a 30-day comment period.
