Posted on 03/29/2024 1:20:35 PM PDT by rxsid
“Huge Problem”: The Pentagon’s Rapid Wartime Response Cargo Ships Are Trapped in Baltimore After Bridge Collapse
By Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge • Mar. 29, 2024
(ZeroHedge)—Two high-speed military cargo ships are stuck in the Port of Baltimore following Tuesday morning’s collapse of the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge. The major US East Coast port has been paralyzed for several days as the bridge collapse prevents inbound and outbound vessel traffic along the harbor’s channel.
Using the automatic identification system, or AIS, data that tracks commercial vessels, three bulk carriers, two general cargo ships, one vehicle carrier, one tanker, and four Ready Reserve Force vessels (RRF), along with the container ship Dali that struck the bridge, are trapped in the harbor, according to the shipping blog gCaptain.
The three bulk carriers include:
The vehicle carrier is:
The tanker is:
The US Maritime Administration (MARAD) Ready Reserve Force vessels include:
According to the military blog The War Zone, (TWZ), Algol class vessels are “some of the fastest cargo vessels of their general size anywhere in the world.” These ships are part of the RRF, a subset of vessels within MARAD’s National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF) that provide surge sealift capability to the Pentagon for overseas conflicts.
TWZ said the activation process of RRF vessels takes about five to ten days. The vessels are operated with a skeleton crew until called upon.
RRF are stationed at major marine ports around the US.
TWZ noted the Algol class vessels have been called into action several times over the last three decades:
Algol class have been called upon multiple times since they entered US service. Just five of these ships were responsible for transporting 20 percent of US cargo sent from the United States to Saudi Arabia during the first phase of Operation Desert Shield in the immediate run-up to the First Gulf War. The ships would go on to deliver 13 percent of all cargo that arrived in Saudi Arabia from the United States in the full course of that conflict.The US military subsequently used Algols to support operations in Somalia and the Balkans in the 1990s, as well as the opening phases of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in the early 2000s.
Breitbart News’ Kristina Wong reported on Thursday that “The Department of Transportation will not say how many National Defense Reserve Fleet Ships are Stuck” in the Baltimore harbor.
Baltimore Bridge Mess: DOT Will Not Say How Many National Defense Reserve Fleet Ships Stuck https://t.co/Nz7FPPQ2QT via @BreitbartNews— Kristina Wong 🇺🇸 (@kristina_wong) March 28, 2024
The current readiness of the RRF fleet is unknown. And just like that, part of America’s RRF fleet was taken out not by a missile or suicide drone, but a container ship that allegedly suffered a catastrophic ‘electric issue’. America’s enemies are taking note.
Thank you.
But the MD and Baltimore- Washington democrats don’t really want the bridge fixed. They DO WANT to “sound like” they want the bridge fixed.
Because the only time you flag your ship under these US is if you are shipping within these US, per the Jones Act. Otherwise, you pick a country with no taxes and lax regulations, because foreign shipping operates under it’s flag of convenience, not the port you’re in (within reason). US flags mean you’re at a huge disadvantage for anything going to / coming from foreign shores.
Sounds like something should be done about that.
I am heartened by the superlative abilities of US Intelligence to determine that this was not terrorism, just a few hours after the incident, and maybe even before the bodies of the dead were recovered.
What a country!
Now, if we could just find out who left cocaine in the White House in less than 500 fortnights, we would really have it made!
“ Anyone hear the adage of all eggs in one basket.“
Well it is Easter…
So called “cutting explosives” may be used to chop up the bridge into manageable size pieces. The ship is pretty well pinned by bridge wreckage on top of the bow, at this point, and may well be hung up on the remains of the bridge support too. Plus all the Hazmat stuff on the ship would be up front. Pretty tricky situation.
Just what do you call a suitable escort?
So, perhaps not an accident - with a Chinese accent. And if a foreign non-accident, this is an act of war.
A fellow devotee of the art.
LOL! and Agreed ;-)
The cargo vessels are to be deployed in advance of a potential conflict.
All four of them?
We're not talking about Grenada here.
Things that make you go Hmmm.🤔
Salvage at the Baltimore collapse site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is well underway.
Doesn’t anyone in charge do “what if “ problems. Like what if we need those supplies what could prevent them from going.
Bring the bridge down and block the entry sir.
Nah, never happen, we’re good.
“Underwater reconnaissance, demolition, and removal of obstructions are all primary elements of the USN SEAL mission. From that perspective, this is just a temporary impediment.”
Ding ding ding we have a winner folks!
The first school Seals go to and must pass is even called BUDS as in basic underwater demolition school.
This type of work is the bread and butter of Seals they could blow the channel blocking span to clunks in less than a day then their brother’s the Seebees will use barge mounted heavy lift cranes to lift the chunks out of the channel just dropping them off channel for later salvage a few days at most if given the orders to not do the investigation and salvage ops on the cargo ship nor an environmental impact statement. Military can have that channel open in days not months.
Bridge Demolition 5/13/24
Drone View:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRIiPbhkPQI
Waterline View:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDtqxZ7z0Bo
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.