Accident on the Rio-Niterói bridge reignites discussion about abandoned ships causing environmental damage in Guanabara Bay

The bulk carrier São Luiz that collided on the famous bridge that connects the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói was in a complete state of abandonment, as well as other vessels in the Guanabara Bay itself.

The vessel São Luiz was anchored in an area close to the Rio-Niterói bridge since April 7, 2016, announcing that a tragedy could strike at any minute. The ship is 200 meters long, more than 30 meters wide and has the capacity to transport 42 tons of grain while in operation. Even having a 7,5 ton anchor, it could not resist the strong winds of the late afternoon of last Monday (14th), being taken adrift until it collided with the structure of the bridge. The case revives an old discussion: ships abandoned in Guanabara Bay cause environmental damage and make the area a true naval cemetery.

Between the municipalities of Niterói and São Gonçalo there is the Canal de São Lourenço. The area, which is part of Guanabara Bay, has hundreds of abandoned ships and rusted wrecks. Some accumulate oil and other polluting materials that attack biodiversity. The exact number of vessels is not known, as there are more at the bottom of the water. All this contributing to an environmental liability of more than 30 years. The same problem is noticed in Gradim, in São Gonçalo, and in stretches of Caju, Ilha do Fundão; around Ilha do Governador and in the Canal do Cunha.

Several of these ships abandoned in this huge naval cemetery of potential environmental damage are the target of lawsuits and are awaiting auction. According to Living Bay Movement, there has never been a study to find out how many forgotten vessels there are in the area. In a released statement, the NGO's environmentalists point out that since 1984 they have been warning federal and state public authorities about the risk of environmental disasters in the waters of Guanabara Bay due to the presence of a large number of vessels that have been abandoned for years or that are sunk (if the tons of sewage dumped daily weren't enough).

During this time, there is a great risk of leaking oil, other chemical substances and heavy metals from these vessels that rot at the bottom of the Bay or that are precariously and insecurely anchored in the water mirror, without proper periodic inspection carried out by the environmental agencies Instituto Estadual do Ambiente – INEA or IBAMA, not even by the Port Authority.

Excerpt from the note from the Baía Viva Movement

Ship that collided on the Rio-Niterói bridge has been awaiting legal proceedings for 6 years

The ghost ship that collided with the Rio-Niterói bridge in Guanabara Bay is subject of legal process since 2016. The São Luiz bulk carrier is out of operation as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding in the Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro. The vessel was owned by the extinct company Navegações Mansur.

When it filed for bankruptcy, the company that owned the ship had already disposed of almost all of its properties, leaving only the ship São Luiz, which was in dispute with the BNDES, the company's creditor. Indústrias Reunidas Caneco SA was the recipient of the funds that Navegações Mansur had borrowed from the BNDES. 

It is estimated that the ship São Luiz has an estimated value of R$ 156 million, since a kilo of scrap iron usually has an approximate price of R$ 1.

What the above say

The Navy informs that it opened an investigation to determine the causes of the accident that closed the Rio-Niterói Bridge for more than three hours, with repercussions on important roads in both cities.

The State Institute of the Environment (Inea) reported that inspection of vessels is the responsibility of the Port Authority and that the body is only activated when environmental damage is found.

The Port Authority reported that it carries out naval inspection activities on a daily basis, verifying the safety standards for navigation and the prevention of water pollution.