[EXPIRED] WARNING: More Tender Woes at Little River Swing Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 347, Myrtle Beach, SC
With a closed vertical clearance of 7ft, Little River Swing Bridge crosses the Waterway at Statute Mile 347 just north of the Marina at Dock Holidays.
Susan and Tom Constantine phoned SSECN today to relate another incident of the bridge tender at Little River Swing Bridge refusing to open, creating a dangerous situation and resulting in damaged steering gear on their vessel. The owner of this bridge was contacted in August of 2013 with complaints about the unprofessional and inconsiderate behavior of the tender. (/?p=120963). Whether the tender was the same person in both cases, we do not know, but the Constantines can certainly verify the risk to which a vessel is exposed when ignored by a tender. This is an “On Demand” opening bridge.
On April 11, the Constantines were approaching Little River Swing Bridge from the south in a 50ft trawler, motoring with a swift current and following wind. They were within sight of the bridge in open position and requested that the tender hold the opening so they could pass through safely with the current. The tender refused to hold the bridge open, then made the trawler wait 25 minutes fighting current and wind. The Waterway is narrow and rock lined at that point and, in attempting to turn 180 degrees against the current, the trawler struck a submerged object and bent the starboard rudder.
The Constantines have contacted several South Carolina departments and the USCG and have asked SSECN to warn spring migration cruisers of a potentially dangerous situation at this bridge. This posting will be forwarded to Officer Michael Lieberum, Seventh Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, Chief of Operations Section.
If you have experienced such unprofessional behavior at this particular bridge, please let us hear from you! As you can read from some of the comments below, not everyone has met with discourtesy from the tenders at Little River Swing Bridge.
We ask our fellow cruisers to please notify Larry Dorminy at SSECN if you heard any of our VHF 09 transmission to the bridge tender on 4/11/2014, at approx. 1045, regarding the opening of this bridge.
If any other cruisers/boaters have had issues with this bridge, we ask that you please notify SSECN. This situation needs immediate attention before someone is seriously injured, or worse.
Talking with the locals at the marina at which we are hauled out for repairs, problems with this bridge tender’s attitude, and his denial of requests for openings is well known. Safe and happy cruising.
Susan and Tom Constantine
We had a similar problem with the bridge tender on October 8, 2012. We requested the bridge to open, the tender at first did not answer, after repeated calls the tender finally answered. Since we were a small boat (22 C-Dory) the tender wanted us to come up to the bridge and determine if we could get under without opening. We were headed south with a swift current towards the bridge so I did not want to approach close to the bridge without it open. I knew I could get under if I took down the antenna and anchor light. So that is what we did and proceeded with the bridge closed. I did not think was the safest approach, dismantling the boat to go under a bridge while underway, however I did not want to continue discussing this with the tender.
Richard Clagett
This post is concerning. My home port is Lightkeepers Marina in Little River. I have been back and forth thru LR Swing countless times over the past 13 years while there. I have simply never had issues with LR Swing. In contrast, I have always said to other cruisers that LRS is one of the most accomadating bridges on the ICW. The tenders are always very accomadating, super polite, for me and I can never remember waiting more than a few minutes. Sorry for your experience.
John Beaver
We have cruised through the Little River Swing Bridge many, many times north and southbound and it has always been pleasant passage. Sunday, April 13, 2014 being the latest passage. There have also been times when i have heard Boaters not being so pleasant with the Bridge Tenders causing them to get a little agitated with the Boater. A `10’³ for the Little River Swing Bridge. Keep up the good work.
The `Fire Dog’ & Crew
Raymond W Smith
This is not to defend slow or sloppy bridge tenders, and we all have had our share of them. However, at least in the case of the C-Dory he may have been right.
In my annual migrations I have had a few tenders get me what I considered too close, but all in all they seem to have gotten better over the years. I have never liked approaching a bridge with the current behind me and make it a point to stay well back until the tender calls me up to go through.
Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters
PART 117’”DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS
Subpart A’”General Requirements
________________________________________
§117.11 Unnecessary opening of the draw.
No vessel owner or operator shall’”
(a) Signal a drawbridge to open if the vertical clearance is sufficient to allow the vessel, after all lowerable nonstructural vessel appurtenances that are not essential to navigation have been lowered, to safely pass under the drawbridge in the closed position; or
(b) Signal a drawbridge to open for any purpose other than to pass through the drawbridge opening.
[CGD 91-059, 59 FR 16563, Apr. 7, 1994]
Jim Davis
Jim,
Thanks for letting me know about the `Unnecessary Opening of Draw’ regulation, I was not aware of it. The question I have is about the light I had to remove to go under the bridge. This light is the all-around white light required for navigation at night and/or in poor visibility conditions. In addition the light was not attached to a hinge so it could be easily lowered, it had to be unscrewed from the boat. When I went under the bridge it was during daylight and excellent visibility conditions. From my reading of the regulation, I would not need to remove the light at night or in poor visibility conditions. In these conditions the bridge opening would not be unnecessary.
My question is to what extent does a boat operator need to go, lowering or removing equipment, in order to comply with this regulation?
Richard Clagett
Richard
First off I’m not a lawyer, but with your small light I would be inclined to mount it in a way that permits easy lowering. I say this more for your convenience than any thing else. My gut reaction is that other bridge tenders will see it the same way.
With my boat there isn’t any room for a bridge to have doubts, but there is no reason to give a bridge tender any more reasons to be difficult. Remember while they are required to open for boats they get even more complaints from local residents because they are required to open.
Jim Davis
I’m very sorry to hear that things at the LSB have not improved and may have gotten worse. To one boaters comment, we are ALWAYS polite and considerate when dealing with bridge tenders but have had several problems over the years with the LSB. To say the bridge is on demand is totally inaccurate as the tender seems to keep to a specific schedule. That schedule is, however, only known to him! Is there something we cruisers can do? It seems that complaining to the State has no effect at all.
Bobbie Blowers
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Little River Swing Bridge
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