Francis Scott Key Bridge South of Baltimore Collapses

Not to worry, the "investigation" will employ many for months,,not to mention, Baltimore gets its aging bridge replaced,,was scheduled for major work next year,,,in the meantime, where's my t-shirts? ( in a box in the 34th row, 12th level down) besides, who really knows. Those ex-merchant captains stick up for one another,,,like truckers used to.

 

Considering this ship was Outbound to Sri Lanka w/2200 containers
Pretty good chance these were American products being exported

 

And this particular ship has a history, and not a good one. So naturally NTSB, the port authority, and the Coast Guard will be involved in the investigation.
The ship was fitted out(completed) in 2015 so it’s still relatively new. But despite that it’s had technical problems including hitting a berth in Antwerp,Belgium. She was actually traveling light-only 2200 TEUs (She has a maximum capacity of 9,971 20 foot TEUs).

 

More than likely, there were a few containers of stuff from the USA going there, as well as a whole bunch of empties heading there to get filled with food and clothing to be shipped here and other places. Then it was heading to Shanghai, where probably a lot of the stuff was being off-loaded, etc., etc. In no case was the entire load all headed to one location. That's not the way container ships work.

Anyway, I used to do a LOT of I-95 work, and went through Baltimore sometimes 3x a week. MOST of the time, I took the tunnels. Sometimes I took the western part of the loop, and only ever went this way if I was hauling hazmat, or if traffic was super-heavy on the other 2 choices.

 

Watching the video, traffic is not the bridge at the time of collision. A truck crossed about 12 seconds before. The only vehicles on the bridge were the construction vehicles. The last I read was there were 8 in the water. 1 no injuries, 1 serious injuries and 6 unaccounted for.

 

My understanding is that the 6 missing were the workers on the bridge

 

As far as autos go, most vehicles are unloaded at Sparrows Point, which is before you get to the bridge. The one's really effected are the two coal export terminals, the sugar import terminal, the bulk carrier unloading docks, the cruise line terminals and the container docks.

 

Interesting sideline just announced. Next question is their immigration status???

At a news conference Wednesday, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed that two of the six missing workers in the Key Bridge collapse are Mexican citizens.

One of workers who was pulled alive from the river on Tuesday is also Mexican, he said.

The other missing workers are from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

 

So...... There are no American citizens that can fix a bridge?

My fault would be with the contractor and their hiring practices,
Not the smattering of citizens from "other."
Again, my sincerest condolences on the loss of life, no matter who.

To further complicate the official narrative, "contaminated fuel power loss,"
please view the slow mo of the turns and squiggles just before impact.

When your truck stalls out in motion, it veers several different angles to the right?
NO.
If it was dead stick, wouldn't it just stay straight in the center channel @ 8 knots?
Several claims of dropped one, or dropped both anchors. Why?
Cover story to craft a narrative?

A youtube video suggests they see the rudder moving when supposedly disabled.
I can't see it clearly enough, and I am not Barnacle Bill the maritime expert.
Not claiming that; yet.
I will look for that now - and other footage will surely follow.

So...... several scenarios. 1st one is unlikely, but they ruled out shenanigans,
in the first 10 minutes, without any investigation, which seems shady?
Captain is Ukrainian, his data was taken down B4 I could get a screenshot.

1) - I am an "agent provocateur" and call in a distress mayday, for CYA,
and drop right anchor, Drag pulls to right, blink out my lighting to look disabled,
then head for the supports. Note the black smoke before impact from power on.
Yeah, I know, it takes a mile to turn.
Then explain the several small turns just before impact?

2) - power loss indicated, (and not being a pilot,) and I have no brake pedal.
My first instinct is to immediately drop BOTH anchors,
and try to regain engine power and apply reverse thrust.
I'm sure this pilot was crapping his pants,
he just wants to thread the needle and go home, like the 100 other times he did it.
Pilot and Captain both have some 'splainin to do.

So..... any constructive thoughts on this from the Forum?
Don't bash me, I don't care, I'm just looking for the correct answers.
Please post any links if you can see the rudder moving in a video.

 

Another thing to take into account is the current in the channel. If the ship was without power it’s basically along for the ride drifting with the current and the tide. The only other way to maneuver the ship of that size is the bow thrusters (if equipped) ,but since electrical power was lost,they’ll be of little or no use!