# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/81 "2024-03-26T13:34:36Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Ocean-going commercial ships are supposed to be maintained to an acceptable standard but part of the ‘advantage’ of being foreign-flagged is that ships are often not maintained (or maintenance and crew training records are falsified), That’s a very broad brush you are painting with there given that “foreign flagged” means every country other than the USA. Substantial proportions of the world’s container vessel fleet are registered in Germany and the UK both of which have better reputations than US flagged vessels. Maersk ships (Danish owned) are IME exceptionally well run and maintained. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/82 "2024-03-26T13:36:57Z")
there will be a press conference update within a half hour. ---
**Author:** ![andrewm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c57346/32.png) [@andrewm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewm)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/83 "2024-03-26T13:38:18Z")
Tugs are used, but only for the actual maneuvering in/out of the docks. Once it got off the dock and pointed outbound, it was on a perfectly straight run for three miles. It would be silly to tie up tugboats for that entire journey. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/84 "2024-03-26T13:41:23Z")
I remember when the [Queen Isabella Causeway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Isabella_Causeway) in South Texas had a section collapse due to a ship colliding with a support. It was the middle of the night, and drivers had no visibility on the collapsed section. Eight people died as vehicles drove off the bridge. Absolutely horrifying. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/85 "2024-03-26T13:43:48Z")
Thank you for the detailed explanation! > [@andrewm](#): > > This minimizes how much the boat rolls in heavy weather, reducing the odds of capsizing at anchor. Yes, I’ve noticed how there are a gazillion container cars stacked one on top of the other on the deck of these ships. I guess you wouldn’t want them a-rockin’ and a-rollin’. LOL ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/86 "2024-03-26T13:47:05Z")
> [@andrewm](#): > > Tugs are used, but only for the actual maneuvering in/out of the docks. Once it got off the dock and pointed outbound, it was on a perfectly straight run for three miles. It would be silly to tie up tugboats for that entire journey Good point. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/87 "2024-03-26T13:49:30Z")
Tugs are only usually used for specific manoeuvres that vessels can’t manage on their own. Escort tugs are a not normal requirement for vessels in a reasonably straight channel. Where I’m from, it is usual for LPG vessels to have escort tugs but that is exceptional. Depending on the precise details, I would be fairly doubtful that escort tugs would’ve prevented this incident. A large vessel‘s main engine and rudder have a far more powerful effect on a vessel’s course than a tug, particularly after the vessel is up to full manoeuvering speed (which this vessel presumably was). If – as appears to be the case – a power/steering failure caused the vessel to turn to starboard, by the time any escort tug had got into position and spooled up it would only have been able to affect the vessels course to a minor degree in the time of available. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/88 "2024-03-26T13:50:57Z")
I presume container ships have anchors – can anyone confirm? If so, could they have dropped anchor to stop making way? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/89 "2024-03-26T13:52:13Z")
Asked and answered, several posts back. 🙂 In sum: No, an anchor would take too long to deploy, and would slow the ship down a bit, at best – unless you have miles to work with, which they didn’t. Plus, it would be in the bow, not the stern. Plop it right on top of pieces of the already-collapsed bridge? Sure, but why? (See the anchor in the photo in the next post. They did deploy it, after the damage was done – that ship ain’t going nowhere for a spell.) It seems they did the only thing they could do – full reverse engine – but that was far too little, far too late. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/90 "2024-03-26T13:57:31Z")
What a terrible disaster, but thankfully at a relatively quiet time. Some more images are emerging: [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJlobFqXwAEAP2s?format=jpg&name=large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJlobFqXwAEAP2s?format=jpg&name=large) [![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJl11cfWUAAV7ir?format=jpg&name=large) ](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GJl11cfWUAAV7ir?format=jpg&name=large) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/91 "2024-03-26T13:58:08Z")
> [@andrewm](#): > > Likewise, the actual bridge supports have a concrete wall permitter that’s probably a couple feet thick but that’s still meaningless to a 100,000-ton ship. Some people are unfamiliar with weights of this size. It bears mentioning that: - the cars most of us drive generally weigh between 1 and 2 tons (2000-4000 pounds). - the 18-wheeler next to you on the highway, when fully loaded, generally weighs no more than 40 tons (80,000 pounds). So a 100,000 ton ship (vessel + cargo) is the equivalent of 2500 18-wheelers hitting the bridge at once. With all of that mass, even if it’s moving at just a few MPH, it has an awful lot of kinetic energy to dissipate into whatever it’s colliding with. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/92 "2024-03-26T13:59:56Z")
Is the ships crew ok? Thankful there wasn’t more traffic on the bridge. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/93 "2024-03-26T14:01:36Z")
The crew, yes – they’re all fine. Possibly up to about five casualties, maybe a few more – several folks doing routine repair work (pothole filling) on the bridge are missing, and there may have been a vehicle on the bridge. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/94 "2024-03-26T14:10:22Z")
Maryland’s governor just said that the pilot(s) issued a mayday call after the power failure and before hitting the bridge, possibly saving lives (he implied this led to an instant closure of the bridge – maybe on electronic signage on the approaches? – and at least one car might have stopped short of the bridge thanks to this). ---
**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:** [March 26, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/95 "2024-03-26T14:11:13Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > > [@Cervaise](#): > > > > Given the position of the bridge, I assume this means the Port will be inaccessible for weeks if not longer. > > I think this is pessimistic. As soon as all of the victims’ bodies have been accounted for, given the economic importance of the port, demolition crews will be removing debris as fast as possible to clear a navigable path for ships. I suppose two weeks counts as “weeks if not longer”, but I’d be surprised if it takes longer than that. Right now it’s all hands on deck for rescue/recovery mission. While that is going on, someone is probably already calling the salvage teams to start getting the barges ready to go. Salvage divers will need to go down & cut it up into manageable sized pieces to be lifted/moved by barges. Then the waterways can be opened for a while but it will be unsafe to have ships traversing under while construction of a new bridge is going on. Sure, they can probably work out a schedule to keep it open most of the time but there will be times when the channel needs to be closed as pieces of the new bridge are being installed similar to what happens on a highway when they are installing a new bridge or overhead sign. Of course, being on water probably slows the process down as you can’t as easily build components on the side & preposition them. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/96 "2024-03-26T14:28:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > . Of course, being on water probably slows the process down as you can’t as easily build components on the side & preposition them. Actually that is how they built the new bridge in La Crosse (across the Mississippi) – they built the main span on barges along the shore and then swung it into place. Though given the greater height, length, and distance from shore is probably not viable for this bridge. Brian ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/97 "2024-03-26T14:29:26Z")
Another video - with more detail: [A better explanation of what happened early morning today 😞 Here’s the full (sped up) video with a breakdown of the container ship B-lining into one of the Key Bridge pillars. #Baltimore #keybridge #maryland #news #baltimorebridge #baltimorebridgecollapse | Cristina Guevara Uribe | Eitan Epstein Music · Dark Mystery](https://www.facebook.com/reel/429086342860624) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/98 "2024-03-26T14:59:51Z")
Two people have been pulled from the river-one seriously wounded. > **[Two rescued, search ongoing after Baltimore bridge hit by ship collapses](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/26/baltimore-bridge-collapse-live-news-mass-casualties-feared-in-incident)** > > At least two people pulled from water after ship crashes into bridge, causing it to collapse. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/99 "2024-03-26T15:03:51Z")
[Somebody’s got to say it…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-ykugiRKyM) ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372/100 "2024-03-26T15:05:03Z")
the crew on the bridge was repairing potholes on the bridge. the vehicle (s) on the bridge may have been their truck (s) with repair supplies. 8 crew people were on the bridge, 2 rescued, 6 missing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bridge-collapse-in-baltimore-2024-03-26/999372.md?page=6)