MARYLAND: Ship Strikes Bridge and It Collapses

[chris]

So far all I have heard was they lost propulsion and lights.

[coolhandnuke]

Originally Posted by DialRain20

How did this container ship fuck up so badly to collide with one of the bridge's support columns?

[allbassfearme]

I knew this would happen one day...I used to drive over that bridge daily and it is not a very stable bridge as it is...high winds get that bridge rocking so bad it is very hard to drive on. Those poor people driving...I hope that whatever reason that caused this to happen wakes people up to vulnerability of older USA infrastructure...God bless the families of those who lost loved ones...

[allbassfearme]

Originally Posted by condor5

Edit, with all the smoke coming out of the stack she may have had a fire, strange how she turns pretty hard to starboard seemingly aiming for the span base..... could be crew dropping the anchors, if she'd have carried on her original track she would have missed!!

There is just the one channel deep enough to allow ships with the bridge high enough to allow those monster ships through...the bridge was not designed with the ships of today in mind...the main supports needed large riprap and concrete to protect the span from this type of accident...had they had continued they would have run aground, got stuck in the silt and rock and old wood, or hit the underside of the bridge deck causing much less date to the bridge and more could have died without knowing that span was out until too late...we don't know but I bet cell phones were part of the cause...Maryland law requires two captains in the bridge at the time they were piloting through that area...it looks like they lined up on the wrong section and tried a quick maneuver to try and get into the channel...but I wasn't there...I am just going by knowledge of the area as a Maryland resident and all the video I've seen...no anchor drop would help...as fast as they were going the chain would have snapped or just been dragged through the silt bottom...video and audio evidence will prove what happened...cell phones are dangerous people...dont let them distract you for one second! No text message is that important!!! If it is, PULL OVER!!! Never use a phone while operating heavy machinery!!!

[spamwich]

Location

[condor5]

Originally Posted by allbassfearme

There is just the one channel deep enough to allow ships with the bridge high enough to allow those monster ships through...the bridge was not designed with the ships of today in mind...the main supports needed large riprap and concrete to protect the span from this type of accident...had they had continued they would have run aground, got stuck in the silt and rock and old wood, or hit the underside of the bridge deck causing much less date to the bridge and more could have died without knowing that span was out until too late...we don't know but I bet cell phones were part of the cause...Maryland law requires two captains in the bridge at the time they were piloting through that area...it looks like they lined up on the wrong section and tried a quick maneuver to try and get into the channel...but I wasn't there...I am just going by knowledge of the area as a Maryland resident and all the video I've seen...no anchor drop would help...as fast as they were going the chain would have snapped or just been dragged through the silt bottom...video and audio evidence will prove what happened...cell phones are dangerous people...dont let them distract you for one second! No text message is that important!!! If it is, PULL OVER!!! Never use a phone while operating heavy machinery!!!

Apparently she lost the plant, I rewatched and you can see the emergency lighting kick in. I'm amazed that they allow these size vessels transit without tug escort!!

[zeb247]

Yeah. That’s a really important bridge to get through the area. Big loss.

[Myristylbenzylmorphine]

Ship audio has leaked from the Baltimore bridge disaster; can't confirm but looks legit

[Mr.NoCredit]

Simply amazing! I’d like to think it would help America take a better look at more infrastructure but would seriously doubt it. The cost of everything today keeps city and state officials hands tied with wanting to spend money on things like reinforcement of major spans like that. Is it even possible ?

[tricon7]

Major container ships like this have a fleet of mechanics who're supposed to make sure they run perfectly to prevent monumental screw-ups like this. Because something mechanical no doubt wasn't in proper working condition, I'll bet somebody faked an inspection signature, somebody recklessly rushed a maintenance job, etc. Considering the loss of life, the impact of a blocked harbor on 15k jobs there, and so many voices screaming for a head, somebody is going to give them one.