U.S. Coast Guard report details multiple errors that led to bridge-crane collision in Savannah

Caption

A crane being pushed by the tug Lona Myrick struck the Talmadge Bridge, collapsing into the Savannah River in Savannah on Aug. 1, 2025.

Credit: Justin Taylor / The Current GA / CatchLight Local

The U.S. Coast Guard said multiple errors by a tugboat vessel operator, tug master and crane operator led to a collision last year between a crane and Savannah’s Talmadge Bridge.

The tugboat was pushing a barge carrying the crane under the bridge Aug. 1 when the collision took place, causing $450,000 in damages and halting vehicle and ship traffic for hours.

No injuries were reported.

In a recently published incident report, the Coast Guard says that the crane operator gave the tug master an incorrect length for the crane’s boom.

The number was off by 20 feet.

The vessel operator then did not complete a navigational assessment before the failed operation. The crane hit the bridge, the boom fell onto the barge and the spud — a steel mooring — fell into the Savannah River.

Alcohol and drug testing on crew members came back negative.

As of Friday, the report did not record any referral for enforcement action. But that enforcement likely would go against the involved marine contractor, Savannah-based Myrick Marine.

A telephone message and an online request seeking comment from the company were not immediately returned.

The U.S. Highway 17 or Talmadge Bridge is Savannah’s connection for vehicles traveling to or from South Carolina and the span under which all ships must pass to reach the busy Port of Savannah.

The air clearance is 184.5 feet at mean high water.

The collision took place 16 months after a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, killing six people and bringing international attention to navigational hazards in busy shipping channels.

Here is the complete report:

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The US Coast Guard incident report on the August 1st, 2025 collision between a crane and Savannah's Talmadge Bridge.

Credit: US Coast Guard screen capture