[nuconvert]

That’s exactly what I said to someone right after I heard about it and the rumors started flying that it was Islamists.

However, China/Russia aren’t really in the terrorism business as much as the economy destroying business when it comes to the U.S., and shutting down a busy port has ripple effects.

I still think this was pilot error or careless maintenance or both.

[BikerJoe]

I still think this was pilot error or careless maintenance or both.

From what I heard, the ship was having the same power problems while docked in port, so the careless maintenance part might be half-a'ed repairs to get out to sea. From what I've seen, the only pilot error would be in agreeing to take the ship out with those repairs.

[JSM_Liberty]

“I still think this was pilot error or careless maintenance or both.”

Careless/cheap/no maintenance is the most likely cause.

With hindsight we might be able to work out something that the pilot could have done to avoid the bridge support (and hit something else) but that is unlikely to be anything that the pilot could reasonably have been expected to work out in the situation.