How can ALL the power go out simultaneously on a big ship? You’d think there would be dual redundant systems. And did that outage immediately kill the rudder? You’d think steering would have redundant power.
A massive ship takes a long time to change direction. The power outage occurred not long before it hit the pier. There does not appear to be enough time for a change of direction between the time the power went out and the impact. You’d think if the ship was lined up in center channel the momentum would have kept it there and it would have coasted under the bridge.
Answers to questions that don’t make sense are often hidden in plain sight, you may never know for sure but the idea of a cyber attack seems like a real possibility, a cargo ship minutes into a 27-day journey loses power while in port but with not enough time to take corrective action
News says it was going at a very low rate of speed, which in my limited experience captaining a boat in a harbor is correct. But drift from sea currents are unpredictable and worse without power to correct the glide path. Prayers for the workers on that bridge.
As an aside, one would think a campaign can be built around this theme: trains derail, planes blow open in the sky, boats crash into bridges… who the heck is in charge in this country? Where are the adults in charge? Bunch of grifters in DC.
It can and does happen. Back up power may not be enough instantly. No tugs that I saw on the move.