July 4th Gangway Collapse Report Points to Overload and Design Flaws

A preliminary engineering report to the city said the marina gangway providing ADA access to the outer dock that collapsed into the water during the Fourth of July fireworks show, was potentially caused due to design shortcomings and an excessive number of people using the structure as they watched the fireworks display.

The 80-foot gangway affixed to the land-side city deck structure adjacent to Brett's Waterway Cafe, gave way under the weight of an estimated 50 to 100 people on the structure during the fireworks display. No serious injuries were immediately reported, but the structure was rendered inoperable.

A report from Passero Associates, which conducted the initial investigation at the city’s request, concluded that the gangway was likely "loaded upwards of 200%, or greater, beyond that which it was originally designed to support. What it was designed to support is less than what the code-required live load was at the time of design and construction."

The gangway, a primary ADA-accessible entrance and exit point to the outer floating dock, was designed to support 50 pounds per square foot (psf), according to engineering calculations dated 2019. However, state building codes require 100 psf for exit ways, and 60 psf for walkways — a significantly higher threshold than what the gangway was apparently built to support.

“It is our professional opinion that the gangway should be assumed a public exit way,” the report states, noting that the structure was the only ADA-accessible path off the dock and thus subject to the highest load standards under the Florida Building Code.

Video footage reviewed by the engineering team showed the gangway’s handrails flexing and audible signs of stress moments before it suddenly collapsed into the water. Structural failure was likely accelerated by the holiday crowd, estimated at more than double the gangway's designed capacity.

The firm emphasized that the findings are preliminary and based only on visual inspections and existing documentation. The report stated no material testing or structural analysis has yet been performed.

"Additional investigation — including but not limited to a full structural analysis, further review of loading conditions, metallurgical testing, and review of design and fabrication records — may be required to fully determine the root cause and extent of the failure," Patrick J. Williams, Vice President of Structural Engineering stated in the report. "Our conclusions are based on professional judgment and the information available at the time of our review. This document should not be relied upon for repair design, litigation, or risk allocation without further investigation and analysis."

Due to the extent of the damage, engineers recommend a full replacement of the gangway, its anchor points, and utilities supported along its underside. Adjacent structures — including a nearby non-ADA accessible ramp — should also be reviewed to ensure they meet the 100 psf load requirement for public exit ways.

The current gangway was built using standards from ASCE MOP 50, a design guide for small craft harbors that suggests a 50 psf load — appropriate for light, non-assembly use. However, Passero engineers now believe the structure’s role as a primary public exit should have required adherence to the stricter Florida Building Code and ASCE 7-10 standards.

The report cautioned that its conclusions are not definitive and that further investigation — including a detailed structural analysis, materials testing, and review of fabrication records — is needed to determine the full scope of the failure.

City officials have not yet released a timeline for replacing the gangway or indicated whether the marina’s broader infrastructure will be reevaluated in light of the collapse.