Baltimore, MD - Container Ship Strikes Francis Scott Key Bridge - Mass Casualty Situation

[Dotta]

"Baltimore residents describe​

'unbelievable' moment city's Key Bridge collapsed into the river: ​

'It felt like an earthquake'."​

Baltimore residents describe 'unbelievable' moment bridge collapsed

'It felt like an earthquake . It sounded like a big bash of thunder,' one resident told local media after the Dali shipping container crashed dramatically into the Baltimore bridge.

www-dailymail-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org

 

[Bodine]

One thing that blows my mind about this situation is why there weren't tugs on each side of the ship guiding it out to open water (or in to port)?

When I was in the navy, stationed on an aircraft carrier, it seemed we always had tugs on each side until we hit open water. Perhaps it's a difference between military and civilian standard operating procedure, but with such a narrow entryway, for such a large vessel, some redundancy seems like a no brainer.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Artwork of Francis Scott key Composing "Star- Spangled Banner" after watching the failed British bombardment of Fort McHenry in the Baltimore Harbor in 1814

Just southeast of the bridge are the ruins of Fort Carroll, a 3.4-acre, hexagonal island created in 1848 under the supervision of then-Brevet-Colonel Robert E. Lee to house a fort aimed at protecting Baltimore from naval attacks (since Fort McHenry was the only other military defensive structure between Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay up until that point).

The U.S. government abandoned it as a military post in 1920 and declared it excess property in 1923.

A Baltimore attorney purchased the island for $10,000 in 1958, but it was never developed and is now deserted. According to Atlas Obscura, the island is so overgrown that it's become an "accidental bird sanctuary."

Interestingly, the ship was hit by a bridge in 1980 but left relatively intact, according to a 1983 report by the National Research Council.

https://www.npr.org/2024/03/27/1241122687/baltimore-francis-scott-key-bridge-history

*a boo-boo? does that sound right? shouldn’t it say: the bridge was hit by a ship?

 

[iamshadow21]

One thing that blows my mind about this situation is why there weren't tugs on each side of the ship guiding it out to open water (or in to port)?

When I was in the navy, stationed on an aircraft carrier, it seemed we always had tugs on each side until we hit open water. Perhaps it's a difference between military and civilian standard operating procedure, but with such a narrow entryway, for such a large vessel, some redundancy seems like a no brainer.

The ship began moving with two tugs, they had detached from the ship as it approached the bridge. They were among the first responders to the accident site.

The ship was still under the control of local pilots when it crashed into the bridge. The ship's crew weren't doing this alone. They had the appropriate local support. But all the best people doesn't always equal avoiding disaster. In this case, I think they did everything they could. Stopping the traffic entering the bridge no doubt saved lives.

A giant ship. A power blackout. A scramble to stop traffic: How Baltimore bridge collapsed

The container ship Dali departed just after midnight, facing a 28-day journey to the other side of the world. Barely out of the harbor, trouble began.

www.usatoday.com

 

[iamshadow21]

Data recorder of ship that crashed into Baltimore bridge recovered, crew set to be interviewed

Investigators have recovered the data as part of an ongoing probe into the incident, with efforts underway to determine if dirty fuel played a part in the ship's power loss.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Bodine]

The ship began moving with two tugs, they had detached from the ship as it approached the bridge. They were among the first responders to the accident site.

The ship was still under the control of local pilots when it crashed into the bridge. The ship's crew weren't doing this alone. They had the appropriate local support. But all the best people doesn't always equal avoiding disaster. In this case, I think they did everything they could. Stopping the traffic entering the bridge no doubt saved lives.

A giant ship. A power blackout. A scramble to stop traffic: How Baltimore bridge collapsed

The container ship Dali departed just after midnight, facing a 28-day journey to the other side of the world. Barely out of the harbor, trouble began.

www.usatoday.com

Unfortunate. Thanks for the info.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Leon said that on a newer bridge, large concrete structures called dolphins are often used to protect the base. Dolphins can form a kind of frame and are designed to take the impact of a vessel and “slow the ship down and redirect it away from the bridge,” he said.

“In some cases, they’re called sacrificial elements, because they might be damaged beyond repair if an event of this type occurs, but of course, they save the bridge,” he added.

John Pistorino, a structural engineer in Florida, said dolphins are in use to protect the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa, Florida, which was reopened in 1987, seven years after it was hit by a freighter. Thirty-five people died after the bridge collapsed into Tampa Bay.

Pistorino, who was involved in the construction of the rebuilt Sunshine Skyway Bridge, described dolphins as walls or guardrails.

“They can be concrete or steel … and they go all the way down to the bottom of the river,” he said. “They’re supposed to protect the abutments.”

Why the Baltimore bridge stood little chance against a fully loaded cargo ship

Although bridges are designed to withstand impacts from ships, experts said, some events go beyond what a structure can handle.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[iamshadow21]

This Guardian article talks a lot about the industries and major businesses affected, and the logistics behind negotiating around Baltimore Port being mostly out of action for a while.

Baltimore bridge collapse: US braces for supply chain disruption

Downing of Francis Scott Key Bridge disrupts shipping of cars and parts and risks loss of Baltimore’s cargo trade to other ports

www.theguardian.com

 

[Betty P]

One thing that blows my mind about this situation is why there weren't tugs on each side of the ship guiding it out to open water (or in to port)?

When I was in the navy, stationed on an aircraft carrier, it seemed we always had tugs on each side until we hit open water. Perhaps it's a difference between military and civilian standard operating procedure, but with such a narrow entryway, for such a large vessel, some redundancy seems like a no brainer.

$$$$$

I assume the carrier/shipping company has to pay for that, so will avoid it where they can.

It's an older port and these ships are being made larger, carrying more containers (and more profit). Changes have to be made to accommodate the behemoth ships and the carriers need to help cover those costs.

ETA: There are still rail and truck lines serving the Port, so they will be able to move goods out that are there. In the meantime, other ports can take up the slack.

 

[Elley Mae]

They should clean up the old bethlehem steel property at least for now as a port, it is on the north side and sits on the outside of the bridge. Sparrows point.

Jmo

 

[imstilla.grandma]

March 26, 2024, 9:18 p.m. ET
John Ismay
Pentagon reporter
The cargo ship did not have a tugboat connected to it when it hit the bridge, according to Petty Officer Third Class Carmen Carver, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. The ship was connected to a tug earlier in its transit of the harbor, Carver said, but at some point it was released.

March 26, 2024, 9:19 p.m. ET
John Ismay
Pentagon reporter
One or more tugboats are typically used to help large vessels like the Dali get underway from their berths, or to moor them.

March 26, 2024, 8:12 p.m. ET
Mike Baker
A harbor pilot and an apprentice were on the cargo ship as it navigated out of the Port of Baltimore, said Clay Diamond, the executive director of the American Pilots Association. He was told by the Maryland pilots' group that the vessel had a “complete blackout” a few minutes before the crash and never regained propulsion power.

March 26, 2024, 8:13 p.m. ET
Mike Baker
Diamond said the pilot in command of the ship, who had more than 10 years of experience, ordered that the vessel be turned as much as possible to the left and that the port anchor be dropped in an unsuccessful effort to halt or slow the vessel’s drift toward the bridge.

March 26, 2024, 8:04 p.m. ET
Patricia Mazzei
Officials with the Coast Guard and Maryland State Police described harrowing conditions for rescuers in the water, including cold temperatures and dangerous debris.

March 26, 2024, 7:44 p.m. ET
Sean Plambeck
Col. Roland L. Butler of the Maryland State Police said divers would return to the water at 6 a.m. Wednesday to try to recover the bodies of the six missing construction workers.

March 26, 2024, 7:45 p.m. ET
Patricia Mazzei
“At this point, we do not know where they are,” Butler said, “but we intend to give it our best effort to help these families find closure.”

Live Updates: Major Bridge in Baltimore Collapses After Being Struck by Cargo Ship

The authorities said that two people had been pulled from the water after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday and that a search was underway for “upwards of seven people.”

www.nytimes.com

 

[iamshadow21]

The still-new person (50 days in office) running the Port Authority oversaw rebuilding of the Port of Gulfport after Katrina. Hopefully, this means that Baltimore Port has a safe pair of hands at the wheel.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/27/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-news-updates/#link-R3NJLXQGEFGHHECB6KAYTJFOSY

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

I think the trussed metal elements are not flimsy at all - they just look flimsy as the structure is failing. If built like other steel US bridges, the trussed elements are steel box beams, welded and made of very heavy material. The box beams can be seen in close up pictures where they landed on the Dali. The force exerted by the Dali was huge - similar to an explosion. With a heavily loaded ship of the size and mass of the Dali, fenders, piles and other protective measures would have done little.

IMO, we should look at the ship instead of the design of the fallen bridge. What is interesting to me is the inspection of the Dali noted earlier in the thread, the inspection in Chile that found problems with the propulsion system and auxiliary systems. The auxiliary system probably referred to the generator.

IMO, the inspection in Chile may have identified poor maintenance and failure to maintain the ship's generator. Since the power briefly returned after the initial power failure, it appears that the generator started, but failed soon afterwards. Smoke also arose, which could have been the generator seizing up. This points to poor maintenance. The owners may have skipped important maintenance that would require taking the ship out of service so they could maximize the Dali's time at sea.

Yes, very true. And I would add to the list assessing this type ship and its size. And it is so unfortunate for those workers working on the bridge at that time who apparently could not make it so safety.

Perhaps as others had suggested, tug tenders might be needed to assist ships in moving and navigating through such areas. I am neither an engineer or waterman so maybe that is not possible? But if so, perhaps it should be evaluated. And IIRC there were reports that two tugboats initially helping position the ship on its departure from port. MOO

 

[Betty P]

They should clean up the old bethlehem steel property at least for now as a port, it is on the north side and sits on the outside of the bridge. Sparrows point.

Jmo

Good location, on the ocean side of the bridge, so not blocked. There are several distribution centers over there now. Also rail access.

It also already has a Volkswagen RO/RO facility, looking at Google Maps

The other RO/RO facilities are at Dundalk Marine and Fairfield/Masonville

Pages - Autos Cargo

An official website of the State of Maryland.

mpa.maryland.gov

 

[Betty P]

The still-new person (50 days in office) running the Port Authority oversaw rebuilding of the Port of Gulfport after Katrina. Hopefully, this means that Baltimore Port has a safe pair of hands at the wheel.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/27/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-news-updates/#link-R3NJLXQGEFGHHECB6KAYTJFOSY

He seems fairly well qualified. What a way to start a new job. For now, it doesn't seem as though this was the port's fault.

Jonathan Daniels Takes Over at Maryland Ports as Exec. Director

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld announced Jonathan Daniels as the new executive director of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Ma

cruiseindustrynews.com

 

[ilovewings]

A 27 day trip to Colombo, Sri Lanka

It must have been about as heavy as it can be, full of fuel and cargo. Sure hope they can prevent a big

March 26, 2024, 9:18 p.m. ET
John Ismay
Pentagon reporter
The cargo ship did not have a tugboat connected to it when it hit the bridge, according to Petty Officer Third Class Carmen Carver, a Coast Guard spokeswoman. The ship was connected to a tug earlier in its transit of the harbor, Carver said, but at some point it was released.

March 26, 2024, 9:19 p.m. ET
John Ismay
Pentagon reporter
One or more tugboats are typically used to help large vessels like the Dali get underway from their berths, or to moor them.

March 26, 2024, 8:12 p.m. ET
Mike Baker
A harbor pilot and an apprentice were on the cargo ship as it navigated out of the Port of Baltimore, said Clay Diamond, the executive director of the American Pilots Association. He was told by the Maryland pilots' group that the vessel had a “complete blackout” a few minutes before the crash and never regained propulsion power.

March 26, 2024, 8:13 p.m. ET
Mike Baker
Diamond said the pilot in command of the ship, who had more than 10 years of experience, ordered that the vessel be turned as much as possible to the left and that the port anchor be dropped in an unsuccessful effort to halt or slow the vessel’s drift toward the bridge.

March 26, 2024, 8:04 p.m. ET
Patricia Mazzei
Officials with the Coast Guard and Maryland State Police described harrowing conditions for rescuers in the water, including cold temperatures and dangerous debris.

March 26, 2024, 7:44 p.m. ET
Sean Plambeck
Col. Roland L. Butler of the Maryland State Police said divers would return to the water at 6 a.m. Wednesday to try to recover the bodies of the six missing construction workers.

March 26, 2024, 7:45 p.m. ET
Patricia Mazzei
“At this point, we do not know where they are,” Butler said, “but we intend to give it our best effort to help these families find closure.”

Live Updates: Major Bridge in Baltimore Collapses After Being Struck by Cargo Ship

The authorities said that two people had been pulled from the water after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday and that a search was underway for “upwards of seven people.”

www.nytimes.com

The two men that were rescued are the luckiest men alive: one of them didn't even go to the hospital, the other went to the hospital and he was released. So sad for the 6 that could not be rescued. Heart breaking for their families. They were just doing their job ---at 1:30 am- when this horrible freaky thing happens and now they are gone.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The two men that were rescued are the luckiest men alive: one of them didn't even go to the hospital, the other went to the hospital and he was released. So sad for the 6 that could not be rescued. Heart breaking for their families. They were just doing their job ---at 1:30 am- when this horrible freaky thing happens and now they are gone.

Yes. I keep imagining the difference in the victim count if the ship was traveling in the daytime. Could light have been a difference? I believe in miracles.

 

[Dotta]

Yes. I keep imagining the difference in the victim count if the ship was traveling in the daytime. Would light have made a difference?
I believe in miracles.

Such mammoth vessels should NEVER be allowed to travel during rush hours.

Or the journey through the bridge should be stopped if it happens.

Otherwise it is an invitation for disaster IMO.

Besides,
this particular vessel seems to be in bad shape.
Come on,
losing power just starting its voyage ???

JMO

 

[Betty P]

He was told by the Maryland pilots' group that the vessel had a “complete blackout” a few minutes before the crash and never regained propulsion power.

Yikes, that's what it looked like from video. NTSB will be checking all the safety, incident and maintenance records.

 

[kwash]

Leon said that on a newer bridge, large concrete structures called dolphins are often used to protect the base. Dolphins can form a kind of frame and are designed to take the impact of a vessel and “slow the ship down and redirect it away from the bridge,” he said.

“In some cases, they’re called sacrificial elements, because they might be damaged beyond repair if an event of this type occurs, but of course, they save the bridge,” he added.

John Pistorino, a structural engineer in Florida, said dolphins are in use to protect the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa, Florida, which was reopened in 1987, seven years after it was hit by a freighter. Thirty-five people died after the bridge collapsed into Tampa Bay.

Pistorino, who was involved in the construction of the rebuilt Sunshine Skyway Bridge, described dolphins as walls or guardrails.

“They can be concrete or steel … and they go all the way down to the bottom of the river,” he said. “They’re supposed to protect the abutments.”

Why the Baltimore bridge stood little chance against a fully loaded cargo ship

Although bridges are designed to withstand impacts from ships, experts said, some events go beyond what a structure can handle.

www.nbcnews.com

There are four dolphins in place to help protect the bridge abutments. They are concrete and you can see one right alongside the Dali around midship in the photo above.