Cargo Ship strikes Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge causing great collapse

[triplets_93]

Florida rebuilt the Skyway Bridge with this protection:

 

[triplets_93]

 

[Quickdraw]

I'll reserve opinion on what happened when more facts come out. Nonetheless, it was a horrible tragedy for innocent people.

 

[Vtwin]

I'm surprised those monster ships aren't escorted by tugs until they clear the last obstacle.

They are piloted by local pilots in and out of harbors so the ships captain was not at the helm.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I'm surprised those monster ships aren't escorted by tugs until they clear the last obstacle.

They are piloted by local pilots in and out of harbors so the ships captain was not at the helm.

That's one of the big arguments of the conspiracy crowd around this event. I don't know enough about the operations of a boat this size to truly have an opinion either way, but many are saying the lack of tug boats here is odd.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I'm surprised those monster ships aren't escorted by tugs until they clear the last obstacle.

They are piloted by local pilots in and out of harbors so the ships captain was not at the helm.

Many modern cruise ships are much more maneuverable than older ships with rudders were. They have multiple small propellers that can pivot 360 degrees. Plus, many have side thrusters. It's thought that these features make tugboats less necessary. However, despite that, your point is well taken. In the case of this ship, it lost power, and therefore lost access to all those features that make it so maneuverable. Therefore, you may be right. It may make more sense not to sever the use of tugboats quite yet.

 

[Creeper]

I am surprised how many people are surprised that the bridge went down from the collision. Look at the size of that ship compared to the bridge itself. Imagine the weight and multiply that by the speed to get the force involved. People tend to underestimate the physics involved in an event like this. That ship is like Godzilla. The bridge is matchsticks to the monster that easily smashed it.

I too am surprised there were not more precautions taken considering the size of that ship and the importance of the bridge.

 

[Reality]

I am surprised how many people are surprised that the bridge went down from the collision. Look at the size of that ship compared to the bridge itself. Imagine the weight and multiply that by the speed to get the force involved. People tend to underestimate the physics involved in an event like this. That ship is like Godzilla. The bridge is matchsticks to the monster that easily smashed it.

I too am surprised there were not more precautions taken considering the size of that ship and the importance of the bridge.

The ship's mass was literally the worst-case scenario for a bridge even at its strongest points.

It seems like there would be laws/rules in place that require tugboats to guide ships over a certain size through bridge areas because there are several reasons why a ship might deviate or lose navigation on its own that would put people and infrastructure at risk.

It is unfortunate that many of the rules and regulations in place for shipping planes, ships, trains, trucks, etc. are based on "this it the way it has been done for decades" without factoring in the growth and quantity of the vessels over time.

Imagine if this had happened during rush hour traffic for example. Even if the authorities blocked incoming traffic across the bridge, it would have likely taken considerably longer to clear the bridge of the traffic already on the bridge when they started.

I feel bad for the workers and any drivers who lost their lives because this is something that could have easily been avoided had there been stricter policies in place for large ships traveling near and through the bridge.

I was glad to hear the ship notified the authorities though instead of waiting to try to fix the situation up until the impact.

 

[Runwildboys]

The ship's mass was literally the worst-case scenario for a bridge even at its strongest points.

It seems like there would be laws/rules in place that require tugboats to guide ships over a certain size through bridge areas because there are several reasons why a ship might deviate or lose navigation on its own that would put people and infrastructure at risk.

It is unfortunate that many of the rules and regulations in place for shipping planes, ships, trains, trucks, etc. are based on "this it the way it has been done for decades" without factoring in the growth and quantity of the vessels over time.

Imagine if this had happened during rush hour traffic for example. Even if the authorities blocked incoming traffic across the bridge, it would have likely taken considerably longer to clear the bridge of the traffic already on the bridge when they started.

I feel bad for the workers and any drivers who lost their lives because this is something that could have easily been avoided had there been stricter policies in place for large ships traveling near and through the bridge.

I was glad to hear the ship notified the authorities though instead of waiting to try to fix the situation up until the impact.

That last sentence alone should be enough to shut down any conspiracy theorists...but, I'm sure it won't be.

 

[1942willys]

A very large ship that was not very maneuverable at the best of times
this was something that was going to happen sooner or later
Hopefully whatever changes are made are goon ones

 

[Denim Chicken]

A very large ship that was not very maneuverable at the best of times
this was something that was going to happen sooner or later
Hopefully whatever changes are made are goon ones

I work for a container shipping company. You'd be surprised on the amount of thing that are hit--typically when berthing. One just ran into some cranes the other day.

 

[thunderpimp91]

That last sentence alone should be enough to shut down any conspiracy theorists...but, I'm sure it won't be.

Not really, a lot of the conspiracies around this say the electronics on board were hacked. Not saying I'm buying that, but I do admit to falling into the rabbit hole on this one. A lot of them actually make some sense, aside from the lack of a motive.

 

[thunderpimp91]

The ship's mass was literally the worst-case scenario for a bridge even at its strongest points.

It seems like there would be laws/rules in place that require tugboats to guide ships over a certain size through bridge areas because there are several reasons why a ship might deviate or lose navigation on its own that would put people and infrastructure at risk.

It is unfortunate that many of the rules and regulations in place for shipping planes, ships, trains, trucks, etc. are based on "this it the way it has been done for decades" without factoring in the growth and quantity of the vessels over time.

Imagine if this had happened during rush hour traffic for example. Even if the authorities blocked incoming traffic across the bridge, it would have likely taken considerably longer to clear the bridge of the traffic already on the bridge when they started.

I feel bad for the workers and any drivers who lost their lives because this is something that could have easily been avoided had there been stricter policies in place for large ships traveling near and through the bridge.

I was glad to hear the ship notified the authorities though instead of waiting to try to fix the situation up until the impact.

I have to imagine that we are now witnessing a similar issue with our water transportation system as we found out last year in regards to our rail system. It's an extremely competitive industry with tight profit margins and minimal regulations. Mix in that many of these bridges were built way before these massive cargo ships existed to worry about and the general public is just now learning that this is a legitimate issue. I have no idea, but have to imagine that several major bridges are vulnerable to a similar incident.

 

[Runwildboys]

Not really, a lot of the conspiracies around this say the electronics on board were hacked. Not saying I'm buying that, but I do admit to falling into the rabbit hole on this one. A lot of them actually make some sense, aside from the lack of a motive.

Or a more harmful target.

 

[Denim Chicken]

I have to imagine that we are now witnessing a similar issue with our water transportation system as we found out last year in regards to our rail system. It's an extremely competitive industry with tight profit margins and minimal regulations. Mix in that many of these bridges were built way before these massive cargo ships existed to worry about and the general public is just now learning that this is a legitimate issue. I have no idea, but have to imagine that several major bridges are vulnerable to a similar incident.

There are actually a lot of regulations.

As for major bridges, you have Bayonne in NY that ships go under, Talmadge in Savannah (which they are actually raising), & several in New Orleans (which actually are more similar to the suspension style in Baltimore).

 

[Denim Chicken]

Here is a good article by a former captain.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/27/baltimore-bridge-ship-captain-electrical-failure-pilot/

 

[VaqueroTD]

Florida rebuilt the Skyway Bridge with this protection:

Not to be cynical, but only because they learned their lesson the hard way. Was probably the most infamous road bridge collapse until now.

I once drove over that bridge, and at the same time one of those huge Carnival Cruise ships was passing below. It was crazy seeing the top of the cruiseline outside my passenger side window, because it barely fits under the bridge. LOL

 

[VaqueroTD]

Here is a good article by a former captain.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/27/baltimore-bridge-ship-captain-electrical-failure-pilot/

Nice article. I'm sure there are quite a few captains who narrowly avoided a miss. I've been on those cargo ships, they are no joke. They're no aircraft carrier, but the largest cargo and oil ships are pretty impressive too.

 

[Runwildboys]

Not to be cynical, but only because they learned their lesson the hard way. Was probably the most infamous road bridge collapse until now.

I once drove over that bridge, and at the same time one of those huge Carnival Cruise ships was passing below. It was crazy seeing the top of the cruiseline outside my passenger side window, because it barely fits under the bridge. LOL

And probably only at low tide.

 

[Denim Chicken]

They're no aircraft carrier, but the largest cargo and oil ships are pretty impressive too.

The newest and biggest container vessels are bigger than the USS Ford by quite a bit.