A pier collapse in New Bedford yesterday, October 11, has left four construction workers injured, two of whom needed hospital treatment.
Investigations begun after part of a bulkhead under construction near the end of Hervey Tichon Avenue collapsed into the water around 2:00 p.m. The New Bedford Fire Department reported via Facebook that they rescued a worker from the water and placed them onto an adjacent barge. Another worker was transported directly from the accident site. Two additional workers were assessed but did not need to be taken from the area, and all other personnel were accounted for.
In the incident, a substantial section of the bulkhead and pier (measuring 225 feet by 36 feet) collapsed along with a construction lift and a Bobcat loader. Various local agencies and departments promptly helped control leaking fuel and hydraulic fluid, including the Fairhaven Fire Department Marine Unit, the New Bedford Police Department Marine Unit, Massachusetts Environmental Police, and Fairhaven Harbormaster. The US Coast Guard and MA Department of Environmental Protection were also represented at the site.
Presently, neighboring vessels are relocated temporarily, and construction personnel and equipment are working toward assessing and removing the debris, and securing the remaining bulkhead. To minimize environmental damage and provide a broad picture of the accident, a drone is being utilized for damage and fuel spill assessments, per the New Bedford Fire Department.
