TASMAN BRIDGE DISASTER TECHNICAL FORUM introduction date and time Whilst there is plenty of historical information about The Forum will be held on the impacts and effects on the city of Hobart of the Saturday 9th April • 9am - 5pm and Tasman Bridge Disaster, there is a notable lack of Sunday 10th April • 9am - 1pm technical information between 5th January 1975 when the bridge was partially demolished by collision with the Bulk Ore Carrier ‘Lake Illawarra’ VENUE and the reopening on 8th October 1977. The venue for the Forum will be the Engineering Lecture Theatre, UTAS, The building closest to the corner of To rebuild the bridge, many unique technical Alexander & Grosvenor Streets, Sandy Bay. challenges had to be met and overcome Kerbside parking available. encompassing underwater ship and debris survey and works, demolition, foundations and bridging whilst preserving the remaining bridge and its spans. ATTENDANCE Entry to the Forum is free. In addition, during the closure period, the bridge However we ask that intending attendees advise the was widened from 4 to 5 traffic lanes plus footpaths. duration of their proposed attendance so that sufficient This Technical Forum is being held to capture the catering can be arranged. missing technical information and stories from the key technical personnel involved in the project. The passage of 40 years means that many of these people have now retired and, sadly, some RSVP are deceased. Please advise the Forum organiser, Bill Lawson by email The Forum format will be based on recorded [email protected] or phone 0418 123 293. memories and discussions with these people in the presence of interested technical observers. Once the technical information is ‘on the record’, it will be available for inclusion during the 40th anniversary of the bridge reopening in October 2017. TASMAN BRIDGE DISASTER 9TH / 10TH APRIL 2016 TECHNICAL FORUM SESSION TOPICS PANEL MEMBERS DISCUSSION POINTS PANEL WHO’S WHO TOPIC 1 The Bridge is Gone – Bill Lawson • Morning after / early action DEPARTMENT OF MAIN ROADS DAY 1 What to do Now? Jim Leslie • Damage assessment Bridge Owners The first weeks and Bruce Crossley • Stability of the remaining bridge • Tony Hurd months of planning and Tony Hurd • Why no “pack of cards” collapse? (Bridge Construction Engineer) engineering to fix the • Making the existing bridge safe • Bill Lawson bridge. • Restoration team & arrangements (Bridge Construction Engineer) • DMR, JTBRC, Maunsell, John Holland • Alan Porter (Diver) • Decision not to salvage ship • Decision not to remove debris TAYLOR BROS. TOPIC 2 The Debris Survey. Bill Lawson • Initial efforts/investigations Debris Survey Diving & Marine DAY 1 Where is the ship? Bruce Crossley • Risks, water depth, decompression Services Where is the bridge debris? Graham Blight • Design and construction of ultrasonic • Graham Blight (Diver) How do we map it? Denis MacQueen survey equipment • Denis MacQueen (Diver) Alan Porter • The “triangulation” idea • Jan Taylor (Director) Jan Taylor • The ultrasonic underwater survey TOPIC 3 Peter Watt • The model of bridge debris and the ship DAY 1 UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA Rebuild Options. Jim Leslie • Options considered Design & Construction of How can the bridge be best Bruce Crossley • Risks and schedule Ultrasonic Underwater Survey fixed in the shortest possible Lyndon Stephenson • Final decision and why Equipment time? • Vertical piles • Peter Watt (Electronic Designer) TOPIC 4 • Bridge widening opportunity DAY 1 Construction Challenges. David Young • Arrival on site / first impressions MAUNSELL & PARTNERS PTY LTD How to re-build the bridge? Roger Baird • Mobilisation DBs 1 and 2 Consulting Engineers, Designers & How hold up the spans Bruce Crossley • Pavilion & Wilkinson’s Points Construction Supervisors while building new columns Jim Leslie • Construction planning • Bruce Crossley and foundations beneath? Lyndon Stephenson • Plant & equipment (Senior Resident Engineer) What plant and equipment • Construction sequence • Jim Leslie was needed? • Underwater work (Project Director & Designer) TOPIC 5 • Ship bow removal / 2 foot clearance • Lyndon Stephenson DAY 1 (Resident Engineer) Bridging the Gap. Lyndon Stephenson • Steel box girders 17-19 / Steel Mains Why steel and concrete? David Young • PS concrete beams 19-20 How erect the beams? Roger Baird • Wilkinson’s Point JOHN HOLLAND Bruce Crossley • Load and float out CONSTRUCTION GROUP Jim Leslie • Erection / lifting beams Construction Contractor, • Knife-edge bearings Bridge Restoration TOPIC 6 • Getting the length right • Roger Baird DAY 2 (Senior Construction Engineer) Construction Methods. David Young • Demolition / thermal lances • David Young What special construction Roger Baird • Underwater falsework (Construction Manager) methods and techniques Bruce Crossley • Big pricker were used? Jim Leslie • 2m piles, transport, pitching Lyndon Stephenson • Tremie concrete/stressing/rock anchors PEARSON BRIDGE PTY LTD • Pile caps Construction Contractor, TOPIC 7 • Derrick cranes to lift beams Bridge Widening DAY 2 • Graeme Peck Bridge Widening. Jim Leslie • Design concepts (Construction Director) 4 lanes (3/1 tidal) to Graeme Peck • Strengthening required 5 (3/2 tidal).Why? • Footpaths / Services TOPIC 8 What was involved? • Construction TRANSPORT COMMISSION DAY 2 /SHIPPING The Marine Inquiry and Bill Lawson • Scope of inquiry • David Keyes the Disaster Aftermath. David Keyes • Inquiry findings (Master Mariner) What came out of the Tony Hurd • New bridge operating protocols Inquiry? Jim Leslie • Separation of ship and road usage What actions/changes • Bowen Bridge “insurance” resulted? What if it happens again?.