Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Car Carrier Ships Near Sidney Lanier Bridge

Back tracking a little bit, leaving St. Simons Island we crossed the Sidney Lanier Bridge.  The bridge was completed in 2003 and replaced the original bridge which was struck and damaged by ships which were too tall two different times.

The Sidney Lanier Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge which spans the Brunswick River in Georgia. To see a longest cable-stayed bridge check out Penny's post about France and the Millau Viaduct. The Georgia bridge is 480 feet tall and is named after the musician and poet Sidney Lanier. As we drove over the bridge we felt like we were going up in the sky. To read my 2010 post about this bridge click this link.

As we were driving over the bridge we spotted some huge ships going along the waterway about to pass under the bridge. Seeing the size of the ships I could better understand why the bridge was constructed so tall. Years ago Gary used to haul cars out of Benicia, California and so he knew these blue and white ships  passing under the bridge were car carrier ships. Probably hauling imported cars from Europe or Mexico or even Japan via the Panama Canal.

Click this link to see an article in the NY times which shows the cars coming off the ship.  The article says up to 8500 cars can be hauled on one of these ships, amazing. According to the Georgia Port Authority, Subaru has chosen the port of Brunswick to receive five models of their cars. It's a global world out there. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

7 comments:

  1. I remember the first time I saw that bridge. I was driving with a passenger that was scared of bridges and we had to cross that one. From the first look she was frightened but as we drove across it she became more secure. I guess it's so big that it look intimidating but feels secure. It is a beautiful bridge anyway you look at it.

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  2. Yes, an amazingly global world. What a beautiful bridge. I love their architecture and well as their utility. I don't like being over long stretches of water, however.

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  3. Wow, that is a beautiful bridge. I am enjoying coming along with you on your travels.

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  4. I immediately flashed on how similar it is to the bridge between St. Petersburg FL and Bradenton...but I don't know it's name. Where will your next post be? It's like "Where in the world is...?"

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  5. Hi Lori, thanks, I am the same way about cliffs, I always think my car will go over the edge. Ha.

    Hi Meredith, thanks, there's so much to see in our world.

    Hi Joanne, thanks, I don't like mountain cliffs.

    Hi Michele, thanks, I was amazed as well,

    Hi Barbara, thanks, stay tuned for morel.

    Hi Barbara, thanks, Oh I've been over that bridge too but for some reason I never got a photo of it. I'll be coming up your way soon.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment