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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

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.

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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

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It appears to have lost all power once, maybe twice.

TragicNotCute

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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

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Why no tug boats to assist the vessel? I find it odd that the ship was allowed to depart on its own.

deadbeef79000

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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

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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.