So, what do we know about the bridge, in hindsight.

[Concerned American]

That none of the above seems to have been considered by the port of Baltimore.

And those issues won't be addressed in the rushed slipshod replacement that the vegetable will attempt in order to make it look like he got the port up and running.

 

[Woodznutz]

The thing is how many times in the past did a tug save a ship from hitting the bridge to justify having to do it?

It seems that the tugboats left a few minutes too soon.

It also seems that they are used in other parts of the world for just this purpose.

Loading…

www.cbc.ca

 

[1srelluc]

Why haven't the ship's pilots names been released yet?

 

[Donald H]

Ok. The Pilot radioed a Mayday to let the world know there was a problem.

The tugboats began rushing to the ship to try and help.

The police had time to stop traffic on the bridge to minimize casualties.

The Coast Guard began to deploy and arrived in minutes.

It appears as though the Pilot was issuing orders and the crew was trying to respond but the equipment was not working. I heard that the pilot did an emergency anchor drop.

But when dealing with a 100,000 ton ship traveling at between 7 and 9 knots little things don’t do much.

Of course the tugs would rush to the ship, but wouldn't be effective until the ship's way was reduced to about 2 knots. There's a good reason why tugs don't escort ships out of harbours except in circumstances where the ship can't make enough speed to develop a steady helm.

I'm afraid we won't be getting much more of the true story on this event. Secrecy will be necessary.

 

[dblack]

1. it was not an act of terror.
2. it was not due to DEI
3. it was not the fault of the US Fed Govt

It was all three of those! Combined!

Also, deep state and lizard people.

 

[Missourian]

1. That large ships losing control and hitting things is not uncommon.
2. That the FSK's bridge was vulnerable to severe damage if hit by today's huge vessels.
3. That tugboat escorts might have prevented the collision with the bridge if deployed.
4. That none of the above seems to have been considered by the port of Baltimore.

View from the cheap seats.

The FSK bridge was built in 1977.

For well over forty years, millions of cars and what...a hundred thousand ships?... more?... crossed over and under that bridge.

Freak accidents happen.

We can't nerf the world.

Edit - "millions of cats" ... daggone predictive text.

But at least a few cats as well.

 

[EvilEyeFleegle]

Timeline and latest:

Loading…

www.cnn.com

But using information from the ship’s voyage data recorder, or VDR, the NTSB pieced together a rough timeline of events leading up to the crash:


• About 12:39 a.m.: The ship left the Seagirt Marine Terminal.


• By 1:07:00 a.m.: The ship had entered the Fort McHenry Channel.


• 01:24:59 a.m.: Numerous audible alarms were recorded on the ship’s bridge audio. At about the same time, the VDR stopped recording ship system data but was able to keep recording audio using a different power source.







• 0102 a.m.: The VDR resumed recording ship system data. During this time, steering commands and orders regarding the rudder were captured on audio.


• 0139 a.m.: The ship’s pilot made a general very high frequency (VHF) radio call for tugboats in the vicinity to help the vessel. Around this time, the pilot association dispatcher contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority duty officer about the blackout, according to transit authority data.


• Around 01:27:04 a.m.: The pilot ordered that the ship’s port anchor be dropped and issued additional steering commands.


• Around 01:27:25 a.m.: The pilot issued a radio call over the VHF radio, reporting that the vessel had lost all power and was approaching the bridge. Around this time, the transit authority duty officer radioed two of its units — one on each side of the bridge — that were already on scene and ordered them to close traffic on the bridge. All lanes were then shut down.


• Around 01:29 a.m.: The ship’s foward speed was recorded at just under 8 miles per hour. From this moment until around 1:29:33, the VDR audio recorded sounds consistent with a crash at the bridge. MDTA dash cameras show the bridge lights extinguishing.


• 01:29:39 a.m.: The pilot radioed the US Coast Guard to report the bridge was down.

 

[Donald H]

My point here is that the ships could have a tugboat escort until they are safely past the bridge, coming or going.

No! The danger is at its greatest when the ship doesn't have enough way on to have adequate helm. Don't try to rewrite the history of navigation!

 

[jwoodie]

50+ years of the bridge not being hit in this way shows it's not a common or even very very rare event. You can't plan in engineering for a one in a million chance of failure all the time.

How about a one in 50 years chance?

 

[Dadoalex]

1. That large ships losing control and hitting things is not uncommon.
2. That the FSK's bridge was vulnerable to severe damage if hit by today's huge vessels.
3. That tugboat escorts might have prevented the collision with the bridge if deployed.
4. That none of the above seems to have been considered by the port of Baltimore.

View from the cheap seats.

There was an experienced pilot at the helm.
I can't speak to the Port's policy on tugs but it is not possible to account for every threat. Therefore, have to rely on the people who know the most, the Port's leadership.

Once the cause is determined, corrective actions will be taken.

Right now all that matters is clearing the debris so shipping traffic can continue and rebuilding the bridge to reduce stress on I95 traffic loads.

 

[Woodznutz]

No! The danger is at its greatest when the ship doesn't have enough way on to have adequate helm. Don't try to rewrite the history of navigation!

?

 

[Woodznutz]

Pretty expensive lesson in crash prevention.

 

[WEATHER53]

Why haven't the ship's pilots names been released yet?

By 6pm tonight it will have been ample time for details or that shows me that some “calculating” is underway

 

[Zincwarrior]

Two objects cannot occupy the same space.
A large container ship and a 50 year old bridge count as two objects.

 

[martybegan]

How about a one in 50 years chance?

Lets see what it took for it to happen.

What was the mode of failure on the ship?

 

[Woodznutz]

Such crashes occur every couple of years. I guess it was Baltimore's turn.

There are ways to protect bridges from ships hitting them. An expert explains how.

An engineer explains what happened in the wake of the 1980 Sunshine Skyway Bridge collision in Tampa, Florida, and what can be done to prevent incidents like the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[martybegan]

Two objects cannot occupy the same space.
A large container ship and a 50 year old bridge count as two objects.

50 years isn't old for a bridge. I drive over plenty every year that are way older.

 

[whitehall]

After the ship pilot called in an emergency the authorities had enough time to close the road to keep vehicles off the bridge. Why didn't anyone think to call the workers on the bridge?

 

[Dadoalex]

My point here is that the ships could have a tugboat escort until they are safely past the bridge, coming or going.

I don't think anyone here has the expertise to comment appropriately on that.

I've been in Port Canaveral seeing both passenger and cargo ships come in and out. Some with tugs, but most without. I can't speak to the difference.

I also can't speak to whether tugs would have had any positive impact in stopping the ship. To make any accurate comment I'd need to know the speed and weight of the ship, the width and depth of the channel, the direction and strength of currents, number and availability of tugs...

 

[SavannahMann]

A tugboat escort might have kept the ship on course to miss the bridge, if deployed as a routine safety measure. I again refer to pilots lining up on the runway well ahead of landing.

It depends on the airport. Some airports have the landing happening as the pilot rolls out of a turn. For ships, it depends on the channel and the wind, tide, and other considerations.