Issued: May 20, 2025

Hood River, OR — On Monday, May 19, 2025, at approximately 1:46 p.m., citizens in White Salmon reported that a Shaver Transportation barge had made contact with the inside face of the northernmost lift span pier of the Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge. A 911 call was made shortly thereafter, and Hood River County Sheriff’s Office (HRCSO) Marine Deputy Joel Carmody was dispatched to investigate.

Deputy Carmody invited Port of Hood River staff to inspect both the bridge pier and the involved barge. He then approached the four empty barges, which were under tow by the Tugboat Cascades. Upon inspection, the barge displayed at least two fresh horizontal scrape marks at approximately the four-, six-, and nine-foot marks above the waterline.

According to Jon Hellberg, Vice President of Operations at Shaver Transportation, wind gusts of 35–40 mph were recorded at the time of the incident. The gusts reportedly caused barge wires to part, necessitating a maneuver downstream to resecure the tow. After the barge was safely reconfigured, the convoy continued its route upriver toward Biggs, Kennewick, and the Snake River.

Preliminary assessments confirmed that the impact caused only superficial surface marring to the bridge pier and no structural damage has been identified. Bridge operations remain fully functional with no disruption to lift or vehicular traffic.

“We are grateful for the rapid response by local law enforcement and our team,” said Kevin Greenwood, Executive Director of the Port of Hood River. “We’ve conducted inspections and coordinated with engineering and regulatory agencies to ensure the bridge remains safe for the public.”

As part of the Port’s due diligence and safety protocol, follow-up communication and documentation were provided to the following agencies and individuals:

1. Shaver Transportation – Jon Hellberg, Vice President of Operations
2. HDR Engineering – Mikel Mitchell, Structural Engineer of Record for the Port of Hood River
3. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River – Captain J.W. Noggle, Captain of the Port
4. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) – Joel Boothe, Region 1 Bridge Operations; and Matt Harlan, Bridge Inspection Team.

The Port of Hood River will continue coordinating with its structural engineer and the U.S. Coast Guard to document the incident and ensure all maritime safety standards are met.

For more information, please contact the Port at (541) 386-1645 or visit www.portofhoodriver.com.

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