Tanker Ship Hits Sarah Long Bridge

UPDATE, 5 P.M.: New Hampshire Department of Transportation spokesman William Boynton said crews will attempt to move the tanker around 5:30 p.m. during slack tide.

He said a detailed inspection of the bridge is expected Tuesday morning. Until the extent of the damage can be determined, he said he is unsure how long the bridge could be closed.

UPDATE, 2:23 P.M.: New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials have just raised the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge lift span to help several tugboat operators from Moran Towing and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard free a tanker after it broke free from one of its moorings at the New Hampshire State Pier and slammed into the bridge.

The bridge remains closed to traffic on the Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine sides as crews work to move the Harbour Feature tanker out of Madeira, Portugal away from the bridge.

An earlier story follows:

A tanker ship has hit the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, temporarily closing the river to water and motor vehicle traffic.

The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to emergency radio broadcasts. The ship reportedly struck the bridge, which carries the Route 1 Bypass over the Piscataqua River. The ship is said to be stuck sideways, blocking the river.

The ship was reportedly carrying tallow oil used to make soap and other products, but nothing has leaked into the river. The ship is named the Harbour Feature, and it is out of Madeira, Portugal. Crew members were evacuated from the vessel as a precaution.

"It appears that the ship was tied up at the state pier and somehow broke loose and struck the Long bridge and caused some damage that we're still assessing," said William Boynton, spokesman for the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

Adding to the challenge, Boynton said, is that the tide is coming in, which is pushing the ship against the bridge. He said the bridge is closed to traffic until further notice. Motorists are urged to seek alternate routes.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Portsmouth emergency crews are on scene setting up an emergency command center. Tugboats from Moran Towing and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard are also there and are getting into position to try and free the ship.

Boynton said he's never heard of anything like this happening before. He said a submarine reportedly hit the Memorial Bridge in the 1940s, but that was the only incident that was even remotely similar.

"This is a little bit unique," he said.

Boynton said it's not clear at this point how badly the bridge was damaged. He said the immediate concern at this point is trying to get the boat off the bridge.

For a live view of the ship, check out the Portsmouth Harbor Webcam.