A “catastrophic” structural failure caused the collapse of an 80-foot gangway at the Sapelo Island ferry dock that sent dozens of people tumbling into swirling tidal waters, leaving seven dead and three in critical condition, a state official said Sunday.
Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Walter Rabon told reporters that the gangway was installed in November 2021. He said it received “almost daily inspections, but I can’t say that we get up under it and inspect it daily.” He didn’t explain the apparent contradiction.
Rabon also deflected some questions about the maintenance and inspection record for the gangway and if any maintenance occurred after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A local resident previously voiced his concerns about the gangway’s stability.
“The initial findings of our investigation at this point show catastrophic failure of the gangway, causing it to collapse,” Rabon said at the news conference at the Sapelo Island Visitors Center on the mainland…