Civil Police arrests captain of vessel that collided with equipment of the new Outeiro bridge
Accident did not compromise the structure and work continues normally
The Civil Police arrested on Sunday afternoon (17) the captain of the tugboat that hit the working structures of the new bridge under construction, which will connect the districts of Outeiro and Icoaraci in Belém. Captain Mário Lima was arrested at a relative's house in the Cremação neighborhood. In addition to him, the vessel, named Confiança IX, was crewed by six other people.
The case is being investigated by the River Police Station, and the captain was charged with endangering navigation safety and causing damage to public property. The captain's arrest occurred almost 12 hours after the accident. "Now, he will be at the disposal of the Public Ministry and the Judiciary," emphasized delegate Juliano Corrêa.
Except for the captain, all the people on board provided testimony as witnesses. "We heard all the people who had direct and indirect relations with the tugboat involved in the incident," said the delegate.
Documents of the vessel and the cargo transported will be analyzed by the Civil Police to verify, along with the competent authorities, including the Navy, whether the vessel was operating regularly.
The accident this morning, involving the tugboat from the company Majonav and the new bridge, will not hinder the construction schedule. The work is 84% complete. The vessel hit two cages used in the construction, but did not cause damage to the structure. The tugboat Confiança IX was seized by the Civil Police and underwent an inspection.
A team from the State Civil Defense visited the construction site of the new Outeiro bridge and conducted a survey to check for any damage caused. The Scientific Police of Pará also carried out an inspection in the area hit by the tugboat. The report will assist in the police investigation regarding the case.
"The procedures consisted of a visual inspection, at first. During this inspection, we collect the traces resulting from the impact of the vessel with the bridge. These traces are collected and added to the information we will gather from the projects," explains Orley de Moraes Cruz, civil engineer, criminal expert, and coordinator of the Legal Engineering Expertise of the Scientific Police.
Material damages
The bridge under construction is located over the Furo do Maguari. The structure will connect the Brasília neighborhood in the Outeiro district to the Cruzeiro neighborhood in Icoaraci, reducing the distance and travel time between these areas. According to Cleyder Razzini, one of the engineers responsible for the project, the accident occurred around 7 AM on Sunday (17), before the start of work, which began at 8 AM. There were no workers on site.
The collision of the vessel caused the loss of equipment used to pull cables, motors, and pumps used in the construction. Some scaffolding where employees move during work was also lost.
About the new bridge
The project by the Government of Pará is executed by the State Department of Infrastructure and Logistics (Seinfra). With a length of 414 meters and a width of 10.5 meters, the central section of the public facility will be supported by a cable-stayed structure, composed of steel cables that ensure greater resistance and safety. The innovative design used in the bridge offers two navigation spans of 117 meters each, ensuring fluidity and protection of waterway traffic.
The navigation height of the new bridge is 13.90 meters at low tide and 11.40 meters at high tide. At the point known as "best passage," the height reaches 15.30 meters at low tide and 12.80 meters at high tide. The navigation clearance of the new Icoaraci/Outeiro Bridge complies with and respects all requirements of the Maritime Authority Norms (NORMAM-303).
Before the start of the work, a meeting was held with the companies operating in the river section, where the project was presented. Subsequently, all sent formal consent confirming that the dimensions meet navigation needs.
The construction of the new bridge generates 120 direct jobs and about 200 indirect jobs, boosting the local economy. In addition to improving mobility, the project will facilitate access to the beaches of Outeiro, one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the region.
Text: Denilson d’Almeida, with information from Monique Leão and Paulo Garcia.
