# Bridge collapse in Baltimore {2024-03-26} **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** breaking-news\ **Created:** [March 26, 2024, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372 "2024-03-26T08:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 28
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2024, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/541 "2024-09-13T16:36:41Z")
It looks like some new information has emerged as to what caused the power outage on the ship: > **[A loose electrical cable is found on ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse](https://www.npr.org/2024/09/13/g-s1-22490/electrical-cable-ship-baltimore-bridge-collapse)** > > Investigators found a loose cable that could have caused electrical issues on the Dali, the cargo ship that lost power and struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the span to collapse. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/542 "2024-09-18T19:10:34Z")
Uncle Sam goes to court. > **[Justice Department seeks $100 million from two companies that owned ship that...](https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/18/politics/justice-department-francis-scott-key-bridge/index.html)** > > The Justice Department filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking more than $100 million from the two corporations that owned and operated the container ship that destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2024, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/543 "2024-10-16T17:02:33Z")
The EIA is reporting that Port of Baltimore coal shipments have rebounded since the collapse. [https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php](https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php) > ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/544 "2025-02-27T09:15:18Z")
The PBS series Nova has published a documentary on the bride collapse (54 minutes): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aE7i201jc_A/maxresdefault.jpg "Baltimore Bridge Collapse | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7i201jc_A) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/545 "2025-02-27T20:09:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The PBS series Nova has published a documentary on the bride collapse (54 minutes): > > [https://youtu.be/aE7i201jc\_A/](https://youtu.be/aE7i201jc_A/) Thanks for posting. I saw a preview for that and wanted to watch. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/546 "2025-11-18T17:50:50Z")
Anyone remember the old proverb which goes something like: > “For want of a nail the shoe was lost, > For want of a shoe the horse was lost, > For want of a horse the rider was lost, > For want of a rider the message was lost, > For want of a message the battle was lost, > For want of a battle the kingdom was lost— > And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” It turns out the ship failure might be something similar: > **[A misplaced wire label caused a power outage on a massive container ship,...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/us/ntsb-dali-bridge-collapse)** > > A small label installed on a wire when a giant cargo ship was built may have triggered a chain of events nearly a decade later causing the ship to slam into a bridge and collapse into the water. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/547 "2025-11-18T18:07:57Z")
That article is terrible. It doesn’t really explain how the label caused the problem. And the illustration contradicts itself. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/548 "2025-11-18T18:44:19Z")
Here’s a better article with photos of the problematic wires showing what the issue was: > **[Lawsuit blames Dali shipbuilder for power failure that led to collision with...](https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/maryland-dali-owners-key-bridge-collapse-malfunction-lawsuit/)** > > The owner and operator of the container ship Dali, which collided with Baltimore's Key Bridge in 2024, are suing the vessel's shipbuilder, alleging that defective electrical equipment caused a power failure before the collision. See the second photo in particular. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/549 "2025-11-18T19:31:11Z")
TIL the word _[allision](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/allision)_: > the act or an instance of a ship striking a stationary object (such as another ship that is not underway) —distinguished from _collision_ ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/550 "2025-11-18T19:34:33Z")
Ditto. Never seen it before now and spent a few minutes learning the history and etymology. One neat example: in a sample poem, the encounter of a lover by another is captured with the verb form “to allide.” ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/551 "2025-11-18T19:37:24Z")
From [here](https://mahonefirm.com/allision-vs-collision/): > …in maritime law, a **collision and an allision are different**. When two moving vessels crash, that is a collision. But when a moving vessel crashes into a stationary object, that is an allision. > > - **Collision.** This term refers to an accident involving two vessels. Two ships passing one another must adhere to the Rules of Navigation. They need to communicate to decide which vessel will “stand on” and which will “give way.” If the vessel that is supposed to give way does not act to avoid a collision, the other vessel must do anything possible to prevent the accident. > - **Allision.** This term refers to an accident between a vessel and a stationary object. A stationary object is any object that isn’t in motion, for example, a bridge, pier, dock, or bridge. Sometimes ships crash into oil platforms or drilling rigs, causing fires or disastrous oil spills. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/552 "2025-11-18T22:11:30Z")
My gawd. I just followed that link on my phone without all the anti-advertising features on my PC. I could hardly find the article between the ads. And they were all for BS, not real products. So much for CBS, that bastion of traditional MSM. We are so doomed. As to the substance … Lotta ways for tags to get in the way of connections and bundles and routing and clamps. None good. ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/553 "2025-11-21T02:47:08Z")
The crash that caused the bridge to collapse and will cost billions to replace was triggered by…….. a loose wire. Story here: > **[Cargo ship initially lost power due to loose wire before crashing into Key...](https://abcnews.go.com/US/cargo-ship-initially-lost-power-due-loose-wire/story?id=127630829)** > > The cargo ship that rammed into Baltimore's Key Bridge shortly after experiencing two blackouts initially lost power due to an improperly installed wire, the NTSB found. The cargo ship Dali that ran into the bridge has been fixed and returned to service. See paragraphs at bottom of this page: > **[MV Dali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Dali)** > > MV Dali is a Neopanamax container ship built by Hyundai Heavy Industries. On 26 March 2024, she caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after losing power and alliding with one of its supports. > Contracted in 2013, her hull was laid down in October 2014, launched in December, and she was named after Spanish painter Salvador Dalí in January 2015. In March, she was delivered to Stellar Marine, a subsidiary of the Greek shipowner Oceanbulk Maritime. She has been owned by ... ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/554 "2025-11-21T02:56:17Z")
Is this the same or a different wire to the one @PastTense posted about two days ago? Read before posting… 😀 ---
**Author:** ![X.L.Lent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a5b964/32.png) [@X.L.Lent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X.L.Lent)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/555 "2025-11-21T03:02:08Z")
Ooops. Guess I sould have read some of the more older posts instead of just a few recent ones before making my comments. I find it incredible that a little bitty bit of wire could trigger such a major disaster. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/556 "2025-11-21T04:01:03Z")
[“For want of a nail…”](https://www.bookbrowse.com/expressions/detail/index.cfm/expression_number/558/for-want-of-a-nail-the-kingdom-was-lost#:~:text=Background:,of%20Bosworth%20Field%20in%201485.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/557 "2025-11-21T11:55:11Z")
As discussed waay upthread, cargo ships aren’t built with all that that much redundancy. The design assumption seems to be that they can just stop wherever they are, drift around on the big ocean awhile, and get it fixed at their leisure. As a separate matter, even machines designed with lots of deliberate redundancy of their operating equipment tend to have little redundancy in the control and sensing paths of that equipment. Such that loss of a single sensor or control takes whatever functional component offline, despite it being actually healthy. Which can start a failure cascade. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/558 "2025-11-21T12:18:48Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As discussed waay upthread, cargo ships aren’t built with all that that much redundancy. The design assumption seems to be that they can just stop wherever they are, drift around on the big ocean awhile, and get it fixed at their leisure. Cargo vessels of this size - and actually significantly smaller - usually have three gensets. At sea they will commonly operate on one but have one on standby such that it should auto start within a few seconds if the first genset goes “off the board”. Commonly when in restricted waters - as here - they will have two gensets running. Nonetheless I’ve been involved in several ship incidents where all power is lost because - as you identify - when critical switchgear itself failed it was a chokepoint that no backup system bypassed. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2025, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/559 "2025-11-21T20:31:00Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > As a separate matter, even machines designed with lots of deliberate redundancy of their operating equipment tend to have little redundancy in the control and sensing paths of that equipment. Such that loss of a single sensor or control takes whatever functional component offline, despite it being actually healthy. Which can start a failure cascade. This reminds me of the two crashes of the 737-MAX. A failed sensor on a system that did not automatically go offline. It pushed a control surface to one extreme instead. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/560 "2026-05-12T17:08:02Z")
**Bumpdate:** [Criminal](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/12/politics/charges-brought-baltimore-key-bridge-collapse) charges filed against two companies and the ship’s technical superintendent [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372.md?page=27)