Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Early this morning in Baltimore a container ship directly hit one of the support columns for the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse. The video is unreal.

https://x.com/omarjimenez/status/1772527229601251564?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

[rocket surgeon]

what a catastrophe!!  praying for the people whose lives are in danger, victims, first responders.  cannot imagine the ramifications of this going forward

[tower912]

Thoughts and prayers to all involved.

Spring breaking around there next week to visit my daughter.  Been on that bridge.    That is going to disrupt all harbor traffic for a while.

I-695 is a significant traffic artery, too.   

Look for a quick spike in prices, while shipping companies adjust and make alternate plans.

[Hards Alumni]

Well this doesn't seem good.

[Jay Bee]

Brings back memories of our bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Just awful

[tower912]

Yes, JB.  That one was awful.

[pbiflyer]

Brings back memories of our bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Just awful

One of my coworkers crossed that bridge less than a minute before it collapsed.

This latest one reminds me of the Tampa Skybridge collapse. Seeing that after the fact was stunning and depressing.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

So it sounds like the ship lost power, and was able to radio in an SOS in time for officials to shut down vehicle access to the bridge. I guess the only people who were on the bridge when it collapsed were 8 construction workers, two of whom were rescued and six are still missing.

That would be pretty amazing if true.

[21Jumpstreet]

So it sounds like the ship lost power, and was able to radio in an SOS in time for officials to shut down vehicle access to the bridge. I guess the only people who were on the bridge when it collapsed were 8 construction workers, two of whom were rescued and six are still missing.

That would be pretty amazing if true.

Just heard that, too. Incredible indeed that the authorities were able to evacuate the bridge and keep more cars from traveling onto it in such short order. Very sad for the workers, hopefully the remaining six are rescued.

[Uncle Rico]

So it sounds like the ship lost power, and was able to radio in an SOS in time for officials to shut down vehicle access to the bridge. I guess the only people who were on the bridge when it collapsed were 8 construction workers, two of whom were rescued and six are still missing.

That would be pretty amazing if true.

Good thing for safety regulations being followed

[jesmu84]

I assume the ship captain was a DEI hire

[nyg]

The pilot on the vessel had gone thru the Patapsco River entrance almost 40 times. All cargo ship pilots are extremely qualified and are paid extremely well.

Ship gave mayday three minutes before crash.  Many vehicles were stopped by Maryland Transportation Police and workers on the scene.  Ship had major power loss and lost propulsion and hydraulic pressure to control directional control. It was carrying over 600 containers and the steel beam came down on the forward portion of the ship.  Thank goodness the ship did not capsize. 

8 workers on bridge doing concrete work for potholes.  Two ran and made it off major crash area.  One made it off bridge, the other in the water.  Both survived.  The other six, probably not, water temperature is 46 degrees and very bad current which leads out to the Chesapeake Bay.  May never be found.  There might have been six vehicles that went in the water, but no knowledge if occupied or the vehicles assigned to the workers on bridge.

Commuters are going to go thru hell.  The bridge crash cuts off the beltway and commuters going to have to travel thru the two tunnels to side roads, back streets to get to the southeast side of Baltimore.  Trucks will also have to travel around and be careful because the two tunnels leading to I95 have height restrictions and any trucks containing hazardous materials(gas trucks, etc.) cannot go through the tunnels.  Will have to travel on west side of the beltway to get to I-95. That was one of main reasons Key Bridge was built, to carry hazardous material trucks around Baltimore.

Container ships are not going anywhere or arriving anytime soon.  Baltimore a big port with coal, vehicles and sugar the main commerce.  It also has cruise ships which leave 4 or 5 times a week.  Current containers at the port will now have to be moved out by tractor trailers to new ports, probably Norfolk and South Carolina.  Can't imagine where the trucks come from, since one ship can hold 600 or more containers, that's 600 tractor trailers.  People who ordered new vehicles, well the wait is on.  Coal and sugar, no knowledge on how they are transported.

The goal is to continue the search for the missing workers.  Then get debris out of the center portion of the crash area in order for the ships to return to somewhat normal operations, then work on debris to the left and to the right.  Have not heard how long the process to build new bridge, but they have already contacted engineering firms and Biden said the US will pay for everything.  Then you have environmental groups awaiting........Going to be a long process and just a mess for residents and commuters.

New info:

Looks like the some of the workers were on a 30 minute break and were in their vehicles at the time of the crash. Ugh....   

[Scoop Snoop]

Thank you for your post. Your comments about survival prospects in 46 degree water are unfortunately very true. I was around bodies of water and currents for much of my life and am very familiar with their quick and deadly effect on humans.

[Jockey]

While I’m a big Biden fan, his statement where he said the US government will pay for any and all repairs is simple pandering.

It’s an Interstate highway. Of course the Feds pay.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

While I’m a big Biden fan, his statement where he said the US government will pay for any and all repairs is simple pandering.

It’s an Interstate highway. Of course the Feds pay.

Yeah that's not how it works. Even interstate highways are a mix of federal grants and state resources like a gas tax, and have to go through several steps long prior to construction. Furthermore, the interstate highway and bridge are legally the property of the State of Maryland.

He is talking about a direct appropriation with Congressional approval to pay for 100% of it. That's not how projects are usually funded.

[Spotcheck Billy]

They might move some the containers via intermodal instead of all on trucks.

[🏀]

Yeah that's not how it works. Even interstate highways are a mix of federal grants and state resources like a gas tax, and have to go through several steps long prior to construction. Furthermore, the interstate highway and bridge are legally the property of the State of Maryland.

He is talking about a direct appropriation with Congressional approval to pay for 100% of it. That's not how projects are usually funded.

This is correct, and honestly could make it take longer. State agencies are better equipped to mobilize, partner and contract better than the Feds. Mayor Pete should give Maryland DOT a checkbook and let them get to work.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

This is correct, and honestly could make it take longer. State agencies are better equipped to mobilize, partner and contract better than the Feds. Mayor Pete should give Maryland DOT a checkbook and let them get to work.

Isn't that what they did with Pennsylvania when the I-95 bridge collapsed last year?

[Pakuni]

It was only a matter of time, I guess.

https://twitter.com/AnthonySabatini/status/1772643640843604097

[Jockey]

Yeah that's not how it works. Even interstate highways are a mix of federal grants and state resources like a gas tax, and have to go through several steps long prior to construction. Furthermore, the interstate highway and bridge are legally the property of the State of Maryland.

He is talking about a direct appropriation with Congressional approval to pay for 100% of it. That's not how projects are usually funded.

Thanks for the info.

[BrewCity83]

Why isn't the shipping company/ship owner and their insurance company(s) responsible for the cost of repairs?  They caused the damages.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Why isn't the shipping company/ship owner and their insurance company(s) responsible for the cost of repairs?  They caused the damages.

But that would take years in court to collect.

[tower912]

Mitigate the situation. Rebuild the bridge.  Litigate later.

[Pakuni]

Why isn't the shipping company/ship owner and their insurance company(s) responsible for the cost of repairs?  They caused the damages.

The government at some point could seek restitution, but a payout like that is likely to be subject to lengthy litigation (surprisingly, insurance companies tend to balk at $1 billion claims) that would postpone repairs for years.

[Spotcheck Billy]

The Dali has a capacity of 10,000 TEU's. That comes to a lot more than 600 containers.