Bridge collapse in Baltimore

[flybouy]

The Francis Scott Key Bridge (I 695 south of the city) collapsed around 1:30 am on 3/26. This ofcourse will impact traffic around Baltimore so plan accordingly. Our thoughts and prayers are with those victims.

 

[jasin1]

The Francis Scott Key Bridge (I 695 south of the city) collapsed around 1:30 am on 3/26. This ofcourse will impact traffic around Baltimore so plan accordingly. Our thoughts and prayers are with those victims.

Unbelievable tragedy….ive driven over this bridge weekly for much of my life and many many times when a ship was passing underneath….piloted my boats under it countless times…my prayers for all the families involved

 

[wiredgeorge]

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/baltimore-bridge-collapse-key-bridge/60303975

 

[Notanlines]

This will be a massive reconstruction project, certainly possible after watching the I35 bridge rebuild in Minneapolis. However, this is a much larger bridge. Throw some of the new budget money after it and it actually can be done in a short period of time.
And yes, prayers all around.

 

[triplethreat]

I've been watching some of the videos that captured the container ship strike of the bridge, and the resulting collapse. If you watch closely, it looks like there is smoke pouring out of the cargo ship pre-strike, and then right before impact, all ship lighting goes completely out.

I'm just wondering if the smoke coming from the ship was an indicator that the pilot(s) suddenly realized that they were about to make contact with the bridge structure and had throw the engines into full reverse in an effort to avoid or stop before contact with the bridge.

 

[flybouy]

Lots of questions and I don't expect the public will ever know the "full story". Local news said the ship left the port, went under the bridge, made a 180° turn, then stuck the bridge. This was a 1,000' ship, they don't turn on a dime and they don't stop quickly. My question is why didn't they drop anchor if the ship lost control?

The Marland Transportation Secretary held a press conference earlier this a.m. His opening statement he proclaimed it an accident and not terrorism. Every question asked he replied with "It's too early in the investigation to answer that." You can't answer a single question but you declare it "an accident".

Like Brian, I have been on the bridge, flown over it, and navigated pleasure boats under it too many times to count. I admit to being a sceptic but I don't trust the accuracy of the curre information .

Now I'm getting ready to take the DW to Medstar Washinton Hospital Center in D.C. We have traverse Baltimore to go south so it should be a "fun" drive.

Just my opinion, YMMV.

 

[triplethreat]

Lots of questions and I don't expect the public will ever know the "full story". Local news said the ship left the port, went under the bridge, made a 180° turn, then stuck the bridge. This was a 1,000' ship, they don't turn on a dime and they don't stop quickly. My question is why didn't they drop anchor if the ship lost control?

The Marland Transportation Secretary held a press conference earlier this a.m. His opening statement he proclaimed it an accident and not terrorism. Every question asked he replied with "It's too early in the investigation to answer that." You can't answer a single question but you declare it "an accident".

Like Brian, I have been on the bridge, flown over it, and navigated pleasure boats under it too many times to count. I admit to being a sceptic but I don't trust the accuracy of the curre information .

Now I'm getting ready to take the DW to Medstar Washinton Hospital Center in D.C. We have traverse Baltimore to go south so it should be a "fun" drive.

Just my opinion, YMMV.

I don't think that is accurate. The tracking video that I watched from Maritime Association showed the ship leaving the loading dock area, then travelling North a short distance, then making the U-turn and heading South towards the bridge. The ship's tracking line was as straight as an arrow for about 2 miles, then suddenly, it started turning/veering starboard. That was about 1/2 mile before impact with the bridge, and during that time of the 1/2 mile or so travel, the ship lost power (it went completely dark), and then regained power. Then it lost post again (completely dark), an then regained power once again. Then within a few seconds, it hit the bridge support structure. There is also reporting coming out now that the ship made radio contact with Maryland DOT that they had lost propulsion and could possibly strike the bridge. At this time, as far as I know, the reports are NOT confirmed officially.

 

[Rhagfo]

Well we have had bridge strikes before, and when the bridge was rebuilt they also placed massive Dolphins to protect the supporting piers.
Based on the latest I have heard, the ship lost power and reported such to the Coast Guard, but a 1,000' ship has a fair amount of momentum, add to that tidal currents, not good at all.

Prayers for all involved!

 

[Peto]

Local news said the ship left the port, went under the bridge, made a 180° turn, then stuck the bridge. .

Typical. The news never gets it right. The ship left the port, completed it's 180* turn and then was heading under the bridge when the accident occurred.

The black smoke was from the engines being in full reverse, they also dropped the port anchor but it just dragged. I'll bet the investigators will examine the decision to go full aft when they did instead of using the forward momentum of the ship to maintain steerage until after they passed under the bridge.

 

[bobbecky]

The report said when power was lost, ability to steer was also lost. They were going over 7 knots so no way to stop in that short distance or even steer if that was possible. The port anchor was dropped but did just drag.

 

[cougar23]

It would seem practical That tug boats be required to escort these ships until clear of all bridges.

 

[flybouy]

]Typical. The news never gets it right. [/B]The ship left the port, completed it's 180* turn and then was heading under the bridge when the accident occurred.

The black smoke was from the engines being in full reverse, they also dropped the port anchor but it just dragged. I'll bet the investigators will examine the decision to go full aft when they did instead of using the forward momentum of the ship to maintain steerage until after they passed under the bridge.

I watched the news cast early on after it happened. The sharks in the media, often the nation ones, are so hungry to "be first" they often "eat an old tire thinking it's a harbor seal", while I was waiting in the ER for the DW to be admitted I had a chance to watch some news. I get amused at the "expert" talking heads that postulate what the happened. I've often seen them get it wrong.

 

[NH_Bulldog]

On the news this morning, one of the "Big 3" network reporters was going on about how the ship was as long as the bridge it hit, so there was no way to stop it (the bridge is 1.6 miles long), then the same reporter in the same story said the ship was as big as a Nimitz Class aircraft carrier (probably closer to the truth). It just illustrates how the media grossly misrepresents reality to suit a particular narrative, and sadly all too many people eat it up as the gospel truth.

 

[flybouy]

It used to be that sensational headlines sold newspapers. Now days replace newspapers with "clicks" or TV ratings. Unfortunately, some folks still believe that if it's on TV or the internet it must be true. Every since I was a young man I said the only difference between our news and Pravda in Russia was that in Russia no-one and believed Pravda .

 

[Peto]

"If it bleeds it leads"