Navigation of Inland Waterways at Bridge Crossings

This paper discusses the effects of bridges on the navigation of inland waterways and presents a methodology for navigation clearance and vessel-bridge collision risk assessment. The approach is probabilistic and considers the effects of limited clearance on the transit of vessels, estimates the vessel-bridge collision probabilities and the associated collision forces and energies, and takes into account the effects of risk mitigation measures. The presented methodology uses various navigation guidelines and bridge design codes and has been applied to a number of major new and existing crossings over the Fraser River and its tributaries near Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada. Examples of the completed projects are presented and the value-adding merits of the probabilistic approach are demonstrated.