A cargo ship crashed into one of two main supports for the 2.5km long bridge at around 1:30AM EDT.
There is an ongoing search and rescue effort and authorities are looking for upwards of seven people.
The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore collapses after a ship crashed into it
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/26/1240857704/francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-baltimore
20 Comments
theamigan@lemmy.dynatron.me · 34 pts · 2y
Two pilots were on board. Apparently there were issues with the ship's propulsion system at last inspection. My money is on a mechanical issue; if not, this was a monumental fuck up by the harbor pilots and/or the crew.
edit: lol, I am pleased with how this comment has aged. Yes, it was a power loss. Quick thinking and action saved lives. Bravo. Now it remains to be seen whether deferred maintenance or similar negligence were to blame; if so, people need to pay up.
HaywardT@lemmy.sdf.org · 20 pts · 2y
It appears to have lost all power once, maybe twice.
TragicNotCute@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y
They evidently called Mayday before colliding. But if I was asleep at the wheel and woke up to see a bridge coming at me, I’d probably let yell Mayday too.
Firenz@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Why no tug boats to assist the vessel? I find it odd that the ship was allowed to depart on its own.
deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz · 7 pts · 2y
I assume it was already under way (or whatever).
I watch commercial shipping all day out my office window, almost all tugs are used to just move the ship away from the wharf, something on the order of a boat-length.
I don't know what the layout of the harbour in this incident, but the boat could have been kilometres from the wharf where it docked.
Firenz@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y
Thanks for replying. I’m looking at it from the perspective of proximity to critical infrastructure, but your reply makes plenty of sense. It does make incidents like this more a case of when and not if.
I’m not from the region (let alone the same country) but I would think this is going to have a significant impact on the port operations, assuming it can continue to operate.
deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz · 1 pts · 2y
Apparently it almost happened again in Sydney today.
wintermute_oregon@lemm.ee · -5 pts · 2y
deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz · 1 pts · 2y
I'm reasonably sure it's up to the harbour master of the port in question, or whatever governing body in whichever jurisdiction applies.
I imagine every port in the world has its own distinct set of regulations.
Moonrise2473@feddit.it · 32 pts · 2y
Fuck that's terrifying
Volkditty@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 2y
But does that flag still wave?
clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works · 29 pts · 2y
Anyone missing the joke here: Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became the national anthem.
Jaytreeman@kbin.social · 5 pts · 2y
Thanks. That was a solid reference that was way over my head
GladiusB@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y
The joke was too smart for the mob
Volkditty@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2y
Too soon? Also just realized that I misquoted the anthem, which probably didn't help.
clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 2y
No worries, friendo.
turkishdelight@lemmy.ml · 12 pts · 2y
That looked expensive.
bobotron@lemm.ee · 7 pts · 2y
Video here https://vp.nyt.com/video/2024/03/26/116761_1_26vid-baltimore-bridge-25618_wg_480p.mp4
Rapidcreek@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y
A cascading failure event. Luckily, there is already infrastructure money, so we don't have to watch Congress dithering.
lazylion_ca@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 2y
Might ss well start a ferry service. It’ll be decades before this is fixed/replaced.
LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
reminds me of some video in Japan where they can rebuild stuff like this overnight.