Bordeaux Bridge Malfunction Resolved, Allowing Stranded Tall Ship to Depart

The Belem, a famous three-masted ship, has finally left Bordeaux's Port de la Lune after a multi-day delay caused by a broken lifting cable on the Chaban-Delmas bridge. The ship, which arrived on July 2, was moored at Quai Richelieu and unable to depart.

Technical teams from Bordeaux-Métropole and Eiffage Énergie Systèmes worked for several days to devise a solution. They managed to consolidate the damaged cable and put safety protocols in place. This allowed for a partial lifting of the bridge, just enough to accommodate the Belem's 35-meter height, enabling its departure on Thursday morning.

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exceptional maneuver

The incident began Monday when a failure in one of the bridge's lifting cables prevented the deck from being raised. Investigations into the exact cause of the malfunction are ongoing. While the Belem has now continued its journey towards Brest, the Chaban-Delmas bridge will be unavailable for ships requiring a lift until at least July 31. Bordeaux-Métropole noted that this date could change depending on the progress of the repairs, and technical tests might be scheduled during this period.

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This date may be adjusted depending on the progress of the work, and technical maneuvers for testing may be scheduled during this period.