The accident, which occurred while the ship was passing under the drawbridge, was blamed on miscalculation of the clearance during the rising tide. But forceful wind gusts and strong currents at that time made it difficult for the towboat to navigate while the ship was passing the bridge. The damage to the ship’s mast and the bridge was “minimal”, he said, adding that Bangkok Dock would cover the cost of repairing the bridge and the Navy would get the ship repaired. A fact-finding committee has been set up to determine measures in order to prevent similar accidents in the future, the Navy spokesman said. The naval ship, commissioned in December 1987, is 112.5 metres long, 15.4 metres wide and 7.8 metres high.

Source: The Nation Bangkok August 03, 2017 13:05 UTC