Another Skyway hit called unlikely

ST. PETERSBURG -- The horrific scene Sunday in the Arkansas River bears an eerie similarity to one that took place here 22 years ago when a freighter caught in a blinding squall slammed into the old Sunshine Skyway.

The 609-foot freighter Summit Venture knocked down a large portion of the bridge, sending 35 people to their deaths.

After the accident, officials built a new Sunshine Skyway specifically designed to prevent a similar accident.

J. Michael Buffington, a harbor pilot who has been navigating vessels through Tampa Bay's waters for 21 years, said the improvements make it unlikely a ship could hit the bridge.

"It's not impossible," said Buffington, who sits on the state Board of Pilot Commissioners, "but it's definitely remote."

For starters, the main span covers 1,200 feet, which is three times the width of the shipping channel. In theory, loaded freighters would run aground in shallow water before they would hit any bridge columns.

The state also built 40 artificial islands called "dolphins" around the first six pier columns on both sides of the channel.

Cylinders of steel anchored in bedrock, these islands are capped by concrete, rise above the water like pillboxes and were designed to deflect ships and avert collisions with the bridge.

In addition, the Skyway's two main pier columns, which flank the channel, are protected by a mound of rocks. The rocks stick out above the water and slope down to the bay bottom where some are as large as small cars. In theory, even a small, empty ship heading for the main pier would run aground on the rocks before hitting one of the piers.

The new bridge also is 1,000 feet farther east of the old bridge, giving vessels more time to maneuver in the shipping channel.

Technology also has given harbor pilots an added safety measure. An advanced backup satellite system can help pilots navigate without radar, something the pilot of the Summit Venture did not have have that fateful day in 1980.

-- Information from Times files was used in this report.

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