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The Singapore-flagged bulk carrier STRATEGIC ALLIANCE struck the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge over the Delaware River at approximately 1:15 p.m. Eastern on November 12, leaving the movable span unable to close normally and shutting down a major road connection between Philadelphia and New Jersey. The 180-meter vessel, identified by the U.S. Coast Guard, continued to a Kinder Morgan facility in the Bristol, Pennsylvania, area, where inspectors attended. Bridge authorities reopened the crossing at approximately 8:40 p.m., with one traffic lane still closed and pedestrian access restricted. Officials reported no injuries. The cause remains under investigation.
180-Meter Bulker Strikes Raised Drawbridge
The crossing closed for more than seven hours before vehicle traffic resumed under lane restrictions.
Two structures sharing one navigation opening
Singapore-flagged bulk carrier
IMO 9648075 · MMSI 563642000
Length 180 m · beam approximately 30 m
About 39,848 deadweight tonnes
Route 73 · Philadelphia to Palmyra, New Jersey
Opened August 14, 1929
Bridge length 3,659 ft / 1,115 m
Three road lanes plus pedestrian access
Conceptual width comparison only. It does not reconstruct the vessel's position, actual clearance, current speed or contact point.
November 12: incident and recovery timeline
Coast Guard reports collision while the draw span was raised.
Bridge cannot return to normal vehicle service; inspections and repairs begin.
Bridge span lowered, but road access remains closed pending further checks.
One road lane each way reopens; a third lane and pedestrian access remain restricted.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard statements reported by AP and CBS Philadelphia; Burlington County updates; bridge engineering symposium paper (2024); vessel registry. All times Eastern.
Road Reopened. One Lane Lost. Cause Still Unknown.
Separate confirmed incident facts from preliminary witness accounts, pre-existing bridge data and unresolved maritime liability.
November 13 evidence ledger
Three lanes before the incident; only two reopened Thursday evening.
Approximate width between fenders from published engineering documentation.
Federal inventory rating predating the accident, not an assessment of post-impact safety.
What investigators need to reconcile
Marine movement: Vessel track, heading, speed, propulsion, steering, pilot communications and any assisting craft.
Bridge status: Exact leaf positions, signals, recorded machinery operations, fender condition and impact measurements.
Recovery and responsibility: Ship survey, structural inspection, road and pedestrian restrictions, and documented direct and indirect costs.
Sources: Associated Press; CBS Philadelphia; FOX 29; 6abc; 2026 National Bridge Inventory; WSP/Heavy Movable Structures bridge engineering paper; vessel registry.
What Does a Seven-Hour Bridge Shutdown Cost?
Model road-user delays after a ship allision, then add optional repair, lane restriction and vessel expenses.
Road closure assumptions
Economic value of modeled road delays, plus Advanced cost allowances when enabled. Not confirmed damages or liability.
How the assumed closure-window demand is handled
Incident reference: Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, November 12, 2026. All assumptions beyond the historical daily traffic estimate and reported closure window are illustrative ShipUniverse inputs.
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