River pilot says risk of barge crash on I-40 bridge ‘low’

BARTLETT, Tenn. — As the investigation continues into the collapse of the bridge in Baltimore, WREG spoke with a local man who spent 16 years on towing vessels about the waves this disaster is creating on the nation’s waterways.

Andy Burkman trains future riverboat pilots as a certified instructor at Davis Marine Training, Inc in Bartlett. It’s essentially certifying driver’s licenses for vessels.

“Pilots have to make sure they get the tow pointed exactly where it needs to be in order to get through the bridge safely,” Burkman said. “There’s a battery of examinations that licensees have got to pass before their license is issued.”

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While his office is 15 miles from any major body of water like the Mississippi River, Burkman is consumed with the Francis Scott Key Bridge tragedy in Baltimore.

He says early indications point to some sort of power failure aboard the cargo ship before impact.

“You lose generator power on a vessel, quite often you lose the steering as well,” he said.

While many have expressed concerns about a similar type crash causing the I-40 bridge to collapse, Burkman says the odds are against it because of where the bridge is located, and how well the pilot in the wheelhouse knows the job.

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“The I-40 bridge is fairly well placed because it’s a relatively straight stretch of river coming down through there. Consequently the I-40 bridge runs very low probability of being hit by a tow,” he said.

Burkman says riverboat pilots can make up to $1,000 a day at some companies.

But even with modern bridge improvements, he says there’s no such thing as an invulnerable bridge.

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