Bridge Inspection Boat Capsizes in North Chelmsford

For passers-by in North Chelmsford this morning, the scene on the Merrimack looked slightly similar the scene of the fatal cruise ship accident in Italy after a boat contracted by the state to perform a bridge inspection bridge capsized.

Officials got the call about the Harcon Corp.  boat early Thursday morning as it was drifting to the waters near the North Chelmsford railroad tracks. The boat was headed out to inspect a Tyngsborough bridge.

responded to the incident, which reportedly happened when the company backed the boat onto a boat ramp and a holding chain snapped. The boat floated into the water, flipped, and made its way to the waters near

During bridge inspections, the boat allows inspectors to be lifted up closer to the bridge to examine its structure and determine if it is safe.

Nobody was hurt.