Posted on 03/26/2024 5:26:30 AM PDT by Morgana
Rescue workers in Baltimore are working furiously in an attempt to save the lives of dozens of people who were plunged into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a container ship.
Initial reports indicate that at least a dozen cars hit the 47 degree water in addition to a 20 or so construction workers who were working on the bridge at the time. The workers were pouring concrete on to the bridge at the time of crash.
At the first press conference around 6:30 am, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace could only confirm that two people were pulled from the water. One was unhurt, the other had to be rushed to a local hospital with 'serious injuries.'
Wallace said that workers are looking for 'upwards of seven' people but that the number of missing could change as the collapse is a 'very large incident.' The chief called the efforts a 'search and rescue' operation.
At the same press conference, the White House ruled out terrorism as relating to the cause of the crash.
The rescue effort incorporates Coast Guard ships, local police boats, Baltimore's Fire Department, volunteer fire departments from the surrounding areas as well as teams of divers as the desperate search for survivors goes on.
There appeared to be an explosion on the container ship as it collided with the bridge sending container and diesel flooding into the water. One of the vehicles that fell to the water was a tractor-trailer.
The ship involved is the 948 foot long Dali, a Singaporean-flagged container which could be seen on ship tracking websites positioned stationary under the bridge following the crash.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
“the water temperature is about 48 degrees Fahrenheit in Baltimore Harbor, where rescuers are searching for survivors after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”
“in the face of climate change, adaptation and insurance can only go so far. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions is also essential to counter the build-up of physical risks.”
The Rising Costs of Natural Catastrophes
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rising-costs-natural-catastrophes-090208234.html
It only took a few hours.
...didn’t think...
+1
The bridge is 180 feet high. Plenty of room for a loaded ship to pass.
Yes.
Same a Tampa Bay skyway it seems. The 180 foot clearance.
Reviewing youtube stuff it is apparent that the center of the channel was the deepest. Could be tidal currents the played the fatal role in this ships fate. Seems there could be underwater berms, if there is such a thing. Build up the approaches to the supports with shallower water.
In the end it seems the laws of physics ruled-the-day (or night)
The piers protecting the bridge were probably designed for much small cargo ships.
These two factors plus heavy traffic meant that the chance of a collapse would approach 100% over time.
The bridge was probably managed by MD DOT, the waterway by a port authority & coast guard. The two probably had little communication about ship size changes, operations, etc.
US infrastructure is falling apart and gets inadequate maintenance, inspection, and safety evaluations because US politicians prefer to buy votes with welfare and subsidies to politically connected businesses rather than address real needs.
There were 2 power failures. Lights went out.
It might be something intentional was done to interrupt the power plant. More likely it had fuel problems and restarted.
The ship was moving pretty fast before the incident.
Tragedy. Was it intentional despite saying it was propulsion failure?
On the bright side, they can rebuild it and give and name it after some black person and not some obscure racist white person. /S
Looks like it ran into the bridge and not a clearance problem
“Scotty! Full power astern!” (They put the engines into reverse and floored the gas pedal.)
Into and out of harbors, big ships have a tugboat, or a local who knows the harbor (a “harbor pilot”) is steering the ship.
The ship reported to the MD Dept of Transportation that they’d lost power and might hit the bridge.
+1 Arlis.
The ship — the Singapore-flagged Dali — was operated by charter vessel company Synergy Group and was chartered by Maersk, carrying Maersk customers' cargo, the companies said
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/francis-scott-key-bridge-baltimore-collapse-container-ship/
A buoy neat the bridge is still functioning.
Water temp ~42F.
They’d have maybe 10 min.
“In the wake of the collapse, structural engineer and bridge designer Ian Firth told the BBC that it appears as the the ship ‘strayed’ rather to the side rather than going under the center of the bridge”
That is exactly what I saw in the night time video. They did not enter the bridge in the center span. Then something caused power to shut down (lights went out) on the ship at least 2 times before the collision.
The picture says a thousand words.
Biden will ask for more money to help repair/replace the bridge. He should not get it. Any federal aid for the issue should come out of Biden’s existing and already bdgeted “infrastructure” bill.
Four and a half minutes changed the world for many.
Betcha every future transit will involve tug boats staying attached, everywhere in the world.
I see some nearby high-tension wires and their bases that would’ve/could’ve stopped that ship. Although those are likely in the much shallower water, that too would have caused ship to go aground and maybe avoid collision.
Where is the sandbar when you need it ?
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