I spent a good deal of time today reading about the Baltimore bridge collapse (long thread over at t.o.s.).
And I read all the posts here.
And yet, NO ONE has raised the question:
What can be done to prevent another collision like this in the future when a large ship loses control in the immediate vicinity of a critical bridge?
Back on the railroad, whenever there was a serious accident, you could count on the Federal Railroad Administration to issue some new rule or modification to existing rules (whether it was justified or not). The mindset amongst them seemed to be, "we MUST do something, anything!"
Train wrecks are also investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board, which makes its own recommendations (again, not always needed).
I don't know whether or not the NTSB investigates coastal shipping incidents like this. There will be some entity that does. And then, will issue recommendations or new regulations.
I have no experience with ships or the particulars of how they handle, so take the following with a grain of salt, and explain to me where I'm wrong...
So... considering the circumstances... a large ship loses power and navigational ability approaching a critical bridge... with little or no "onboard controls"...
... What additional actions might be taken to prevent a disaster?
Obviously, if the ship has no control or maneuverability, it's not going to be able to "save itself".
But... what if... in such circumstances, a large ship passing under such bridges was required to be accompanied by two (or more) tugboats, against the bow end on either side, assisting lightly...?
If the ship suffered a sudden loss of power, the tugs could "increase their assistance" and nudge the ship where it was supposed to be.
So I wouldn't be surprised to see the feds issue a new requirement that -- in lieu of a protective structure having been built around the main bridge piers (for an example of such, see the "doughnuts" that were built to protect the new Sunshine Skyway bridge in Tampa Bay), all ships over a certain size/tonnage will be accompanied by tugs until clearing "the outer buoys"... and arriving ships will be met there and "guided" all the way into dockside.
Once these existing bridges have had their piers sufficiently "protected", such escorts will no longer be required.
Again, I'm going to guess that there's going to be a lot of screaming to ensure that this "never happens again".
Just how are they going to do that?