I’m certainly no expert in ship navigation but I suspect “minutes” is hardly enough time for a tug to gain control of a 1000 foot fully loaded cargo ship.
You’re using the term “minutes” because you know the exact time when the ship hit the bridge. When the pilot called for a tug it was due to some kind of mechanical failure that compromised the ship. He didn’t necessarily know in advance exactly what was going to happen in the minutes ahead. He almost certainly would have called for the tug even if there was no bridge ahead over the channel.
It may have been too late when the call was made. But I wouldn’t know. They made the call the moment they knew they needed help. It certainly helps investigators to know that the crew was alert, aware of their predicament, and making every effort to save the ship and avoid the bridge.
The pilot did well. He had no choice as to when the ships systems started failing. When He or she knew something was up the call was made for a tug. And a tug, in minutes could, if nearby, could push the bow of the ship in a direction to avoid the bridge. Apparently a tug wasn’t close enough to the ship to make it there.
I suspect “minutes” is hardly enough time for a tug to gain control of a 1000 foot fully loaded cargo ship.
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since it would have taken them minutes to get to the ship, and more minutes get in position. Getting control would have taken a long time. Fruitless, but like dropping the anchor, protocol. The ship was too close to the bridge and going too fast for anything to stop it from hitting.
You have no control over when you figure out you have a problem. Sometimes it’s too late.
Yep, and they typically don't have top speeds of 100 knots/hour so they could cross the bay and reach the ship in seconds.