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In a terrifying incident captured by passersby on their smartphones, the Brazilian-flagged bulk carrier SAO LUIZ slammed her stern into the Rio-Niterói Bridge amid heavy weather
The accident
In the early evening of 14 November 2022, the 1994-built handysize bulker SÃO LUIZ, anchored just above the Rio-Niterói Bridge close to the Governador Island, drifted and crashed stern-first into the landmark structure. It was reported that the vessel’s anchor chain collapsed after strong winds blew over Rio de Janeiro.
No personal injury or pollution resulting from the allision was reported. The incident led to the partial closure of the busy bridge over Guanabara Bay, in Rio de Janeiro, on the eve of the national holiday of the Proclamation of the Republic.
The Port Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro has launched an administrative inquiry to determine the accident’s causes, circumstances and responsibilities.
The bridge
The President Costa e Silva Bridge, better known as Rio-Niterói Bridge, is 13.29 km long (8.83 km over water), the longest in Brazil. Since its opening in 1974, the box girder-type bridge has been the primary connection between the City of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói, São Gonçalo, the Lake Region and the northern coast of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the bridge operator, Ecoponte, the Rio-Niterói Bridge carries over 150,000 vehicles and 400,000 passengers daily.
After the allision, the bridge was partially closed. The lanes towards Niteroi were released on the night of the accident, while the opposite direction was reopened the following morning.
Ecoponte is assessing the full extent of the damage to the bridge but anticipates the structure has not been compromised, so much so that it was reopened to road traffic after repairs of a section of guardrails struck by the vessel.
Maritime traffic under the bridge remains clear.
The vessel
Following the accident, the SÃO LUIZ remained under the bridge span before being towed by local tugs under a pilot to a layby berth in Rio de Janeiro for damage assessment.
The 42,815-dwt bulk carrier has been laid up since 2016. According to the maritime authority, the decaying vessel is involved in a judicial dispute and should remain idle in Guanabara Bay until a court decision is rendered.
The Command of the 1st Naval District in Rio de Janeiro issued an official note (in Portuguese only).
Lay-up regulations
Similarly to the SÃO LUIZ, dozens of ships are laid up across Guanabara Bay for various reasons, many of which are derelicts.
Ship lay-up is regulated by the Brazilian Navy’s Directorate of Ports of Coasts (DPC) through the “Maritime Authority Standards for the Transit and Permanence of Vessels in Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters” (NORMAM-08/DPC) and the “Maritime Authority Standards for the Operation of Foreign Vessels in Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters” (NORMAM-04/DPC).
NORMAM-04/DPC and NORMAM-08/DPC authorise Brazilian vessels, offshore support ships, and foreign-flagged offshore support ships to lay up in national ports and terminals under certain conditions. Read more.
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