I was surprised when the tugs dropped of so far away, might be compliancy or a habit formed from many years of no problems

But can't help thinking that if the tugs had gone with the barge up until going under the bridge they might have been able to help correct the ships problem of the current taking it and its turning into the bridge. Yes they may have need more tugs, however it seems that maybe this will be instigated in the future, or the bridge will be built differently or both ?

I think you're right Grit. From what I have read (there we go again) the pilot did declare a mayday several minutes prior to the strike. That gave the guys on the bridge a little time to stop most traffic and get out of the way. That mayday probably saved a lot of lives too.

Also at 0126 the pilot asked for assistance from a tug and at 0127 he dropped a bow anchor. But they were apparently just too close at that point to overcome the inertia of that loaded ship

The shipping company caused the accident. Let them pay the cost of clean up and rebuild.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/29/us/francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-friday/index.html


More information.

I have spent many hours on the water, before Covid I was operating vessels on the Hudson and East Rivers. I even posted many pictures from the harbor…

I do have a few theory’s pertaining to the bridge collision.

The Jones Act has lots of information here is just some…

The Merchant Marine act of 1920 was designed to create a safe network of merchant mariners within the U.S. after World War I, in reaction to the U.S. fleet being destroyed by the German navy. The Jones Act requires all goods shipped between U.S. ports to be transported by U.S. vessels (and operated primarily by Americans).

It calls for providing the nation with a merchant marine that can transport goods between U.S. ports, increase national security during war times, and support a U.S. maritime industry. This nearly century-old law has been amended several times, most recently in 2006.

While much of the current attention on the Jones Act is focused on foreign shipping regulations, the law also contains important information about the maritime industry’s responsibilities regarding safety and well-being of crew. It safeguards the rights of sailors from being exploited, requiring compensation for injuries due to negligence by their employers. It requires employers to maintain safe environments and provide medical care, and also sets standards for vessel maintenance, safety equipment such as lifeboats, and crew qualifications, training and licensing. And, this all-encompassing law has something to say about the environment too, requiring all U.S. ships to comply with EPA regulations.

The Bottom Line
The Jones Act is a 1920 law that limits how cargo is transported by sea. It requires any cargo shipped between U.S. ports to be carried by U.S. ships, with American crews. Originally intended as a measure to support the strategically-important shipping industry, it is now considered a classic example of protectionism.

I absolutely loved your photos, btw.

I appreciate that Trapdod1, in one of my posts I had photos of a MASSIVE CRANE that was used when the Tapanzee bridge was disabled… I wouldn’t doubt for a moment that the Baltimore port could use that in the clean up…

Belive that is the Left Coast Lifter, also did the San Fran bridge.
Think it's currently at Staten Island, so figured it'd be used here.
And for sale, so good publicity.
Guess not.

Clean up and rebuilding the bridge and keeping all the port jobs and keeping the sugar packets coming not to mention the import/export of all the cars and other stuff needs to be on the front burner.
Still I'm still stuck on the cause and even time may never reveal the whole story.


While I haven't ran across any specs on the Dali engine, others use 2 cycle 8 cylinders with jugs more than 30'' across. The Dali has 1.5 million gal fuel tank. One of the articles I read said it was assumed they filled up at Baltimore and requires settling out stages and that likely they might have still been using the fuel they loaded somewhere else.

Many incidents in 2023 that caused power outages was caused by chlorinated organic materials or simpler terms pesticides. I remember when a lot of stuff was outlawed here they sold their leftovers others places for them to use up. It seems the official way now to get rid of it it by incineration. Here is an article about that.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US4215095A/en

They can't keep a bridge 1.5 miles long up. It would be ludicrous to think they could keep one open between continents. That is without the Chinese labor force of course, lol !

quote=DaveP]




Belive that is the Left Coast Lifter, also did the San Fran bridge.
Think it's currently at Staten Island, so figured it'd be used here.
And for sale, so good publicity.
Guess not.[/quote]

I don’t recall the barge and cranes name…

However I just watched the news at the top of the hour and the claim the largest crane and barge are on site… If I could figure how to post photos we’d all see this claim is false!

Anyone who knows how to post a photo can pm me either a phone number or email I’ll send you the picture and ask you to post it for me… Thanks

River Birchs pic

Thank you Gary!

And Dave P nailed it the name is Left Coast Lifter…

Nice job fellas

How much can the left cost lifer lift?

1700 ton



Pic from a friend of a friend.

Appears expansion joints worked...

Thanks Dave.

Also at 0126 the pilot asked for assistance from a tug and at 0127 he dropped a bow anchor. But they were apparently just too close at that point to overcome the inertia of that loaded ship[/quote]

That might be why the ship took such a hard right like it did. The anchor caught and if it was the right anchor, , makes some sense.

Who pays? Sounds like they are insured up to $3.1 billion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wim-_Q_59o&t=1567s