Francis Scott Key bridge collapse (Baltimore)

[92tide]

a ship collided with the bridge overnight

Live updates: Baltimore Key bridge collapses after ship collision

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a large ship, according to video obtained by CNN. Follow live updates here.

www.cnn.com

The White House is “closely monitoring” the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, a White House official tells CNN.

The US Coast Guard, the official said, is conducting search and rescue efforts, with senior White House officials in touch with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott “to offer any federal assistance they need.”

 

[Go Bama]

OMG, what a disaster! The video footage is surreal. It’s hard to imagine how a ship’s captain and crew couldn’t miss something as large as a bridge abutment. What a nightmare.

 

[Bamaro]

OMG, what a disaster! The video footage is surreal. It’s hard to imagine how a ship’s captain and crew couldn’t miss something as large as a bridge abutment. What a nightmare.

Probably being steered by a harbor pilot in that area.

 

[Bamaro]

Its part of the Baltimore Beltway, I 695, that completes the circle of the beltway.
Closes the port also.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

What a horrible thing to happen. They are reporting it was likely a malfunction on the boat and not deliberate.
It’s a scary reminder how vulnerable our infrastructure is to terrorists attacks.

 

[Go Bama]

What a horrible thing to happen. They are reporting it was likely a malfunction on the boat and not deliberate.
It’s a scary reminder how vulnerable our infrastructure is to terrorists attacks.

I’m sure there will be an investigation, but what kind of malfunction could they be talking about? It seems like the motors could be reversed if there was a steering issue.

I hope @TugTide will weigh in on this one.

 

[2003TIDE]

OMG, what a disaster! The video footage is surreal. It’s hard to imagine how a ship’s captain and crew couldn’t miss something as large as a bridge abutment. What a nightmare.

Reports are that the ship's lights flickered and then it veered off course so they are looking at a potential power failure.

 

[Jon]

Probably being steered by a harbor pilot in that area.

agree, that would be a local pilot

 

[lowend]

It's not outside of the realm of possiblity that it's an accident (see the 1993 Big Bayou Canot Amtrak derailment in southwest Alabama), but post-9/11 that's not the first place my mind went.

 

[Bazza]

🙏

 

[CrimsonJazz]

agree, that would be a local pilot

Is that why there were no tugs? I don't know much of anything about this industry, so I feel like I'm about to learn a lot in the next couple of days.

 

[92tide]

Reports are that the ship' lights flickered and then it veered off course so they are looking at a potential power failure.

i saw a video earlier today and the ship went completely dark a couple of times as it was approaching the bridge

 

[Elefantman]

I would imagine a loss of power or control for a brief time, like 5 minutes, is all it would take to veer off course and place the ship in an unrecoverable situation.

 

[Jon]

Is that why there were no tugs? I don't know much of anything about this industry, so I feel like I'm about to learn a lot in the next couple of days.

I don't know much more but my wife's family has a former harbor master in it and that is the way I understand how it works in these large important ports. At a certain point it is turned over to harbor pilots when coming in and going out. Been years since I've spoken with him

 

[Crimson1967]

Is that why there were no tugs? I don't know much of anything about this industry, so I feel like I'm about to learn a lot in the next couple of days.

Mainly from people who don’t know any more than you do but like to act as if they are experts in everything.

 

[Chukker Veteran]

Is that why there were no tugs? I don't know much of anything about this industry, so I feel like I'm about to learn a lot in the next couple of days.

Maybe the massive size of the boat, and it being fully loaded, make up so much mass that tugboats are too small to control things. Just a guess…

 

[NationalTitles18]

Well, he has officially rolled over in his grave. (too early?)

Tragic accident.

 

[TexasBama]

Reports are that the ship's lights flickered and then it veered off course so they are looking at a potential power failure.

The report I heard on npr is that they may have had engine problems

 

[CrimsonJazz]

Mainly from people who don’t know any more than you do but like to act as if they are experts in everything.

On the internet? Surely you jest. 😆

 

[Go Bama]

This guy offers a little insight. I don't know his qualifications.