This is the gangway that collapsed as people stood on it to watch July 4th fireworks from the Fernandina Harbor Marina. | City of Fernandina Beach
Published on August 1, 2025 at 2:00 pm
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The collapse of a gangway into the Amelia River during July 4 fireworks in Fernandina Beach was partly a result of too many spectators standing on a structure that couldn’t handle the weight, a preliminary report shows.
The gangway next to Brett’s Waterway Cafe probably was supporting twice as much weight as it was designed for, according to the report from Passero Associates.
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The report recommends that other parts of the gangway be checked for their weight capacity.
City officials would not comment much on the report, saying what happens now is up to the City Commission, along with what happens with the Brett’s site, which will close later this year and then be demolished.
“The gangway has been removed. There is an adjacent gangway in place that is still in use,” City Manager Sarah Campbell said in a statement to Jacksonville Today. “(We are) not sure what steps will come next. Will depend on commission direction and the redevelopment of the marina/Brett’s demolition plans.”
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No one fell into the water after the gangway bent in the middle, dipping into the river. Rescuers from Fernandina Beach police and fire departments were on scene immediately to treat minor injuries, city officials said.
Passero’s structural engineering team performed a preliminary assessment of the 80-foot-long gangway, which was designed for disabled access to the marina’s floating docks. The team did an on-site investigation July 7 and reviewed video footage from the night of the event and after the collapse.
“It is unclear from video footage the exact number of people on the gangway at the time of failure,” the report states. “By visual observations, it appears the failure can be at least partially attributed to an overstress of the gangway.”
The gangway was designed to support 50 pounds per square foot, according to engineering calculations dated 2019. The Florida Building Code requires 100 pounds per square foot for exit ways and 60 pounds per square foot for walkways — a significantly higher threshold than what the gangway was apparently built to support, the report said.
The report states that the findings are preliminary, based on a limited review so far. No detailed structural analysis was conducted, and the report is solely for the informational use by the city. It “should not be construed as a definitive cause report,” it cautions.
