Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses (Hit by a ship)

[Drago]

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland which crosses the Patapsco River has reportedly collapsed within the last few minutes after being struck by a large container ship...

Video at the 1st 2 Twitter/X links below:

https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1772514015790477667?s=20

https://x.com/BNONews/status/1772515766929097088?s=20

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/breaking-news-key-bridge-collapsed#

[Drago]

Video from another angle (& close):

https://x.com/rawsalerts/status/1772514786338619487?s=20

[Drago]

The ship ("Dali") was headed to Sri Lanka from Baltimore:

https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9697428

NYT:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/26/us/ship-hits-baltimore-key-bridge.html

[Sighlass]

Dang !

Searching for at least 7 people (abc news). Hit occurred at 1:35 a.m, so probable less people on the bridge.

[Drago]

BBC Reporting:  https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-us-canada-68663071?src_origin=BBCS_BBC

Local Fox Baltimore live stream: https://foxbaltimore.com/watch

Baltimore Fire Dept. radio scanner: https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/30327

[Gefn]

Live updates also here.

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/baltimore-bridge-collapse-03-26-24-intl-hnk/index.html

Rescue workers in Baltimore are searching for as many as seven people after a major bridge in the city's port was struck by a container ship early Tuesday, officials said. It is an "active search and rescue" situation, the city's fire chief said, and the number of missing people could change.

Two people have been saved from the water so far, Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace said.

Video shows the collapse of the 1.6-mile-long, four-lane bridge after it was hit by the vessel. An official told CNN conditions were unsafe for rescuers due to objects hanging from the structure, freezing conditions and limited visibility.

[Cyber Liberty]

Stickied....

[American Girl]

Why does it look like it intentionally turned right into the support column? From this video, it looks like he adjusted the course into the bridge support accelerated and turned off most lights.

https://www.usasupreme.com/baltimores-key-bridge-collapses-after-ship-collision-new-video-from-the-moment-of-impact-raises-huge-red-flags/

[catfish1957]

Shocking

I have now watched that video 20 times now, and something doesn't seem right. The nature of it collapsing  within seconds doesn't seem right.  Even as a suspension bridge, a more likely outcome would seem that this thing would have fallen in segments. 

I am not a civil engineer, but outside some serious structural maintenance or design issue, this  should have been confined within the piers struck.  In most areas of engineering, design and response are governed around doing exercises utilizing risk assessments nd worst case scenarios.  Was it underdesigned?  Failings in maintenance?

Not trying to stir up conspiracy theories this early on, but something doesn't seem to add up.

[Gefn]

White House says Baltimore bridge collapse was NOT terrorism and reveals there's 'no indication' it was intentional - as rescuers race to pluck survivors from the freezing river

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13239959/White-House-says-theres-no-indication-Baltimore-bridge-collapse-intentional-investigators-race-pull-cars-water.html

[Gefn]

Rescuers scramble to save dozens including 20 construction workers after Baltimore's colossal Key Bridge collapsed when container ship crashed into it flinging 'multiple' cars and a semi-truck into the river amid fears of mass casualties

escue workers in Baltimore are working furiously in an attempt to save the lives of dozens of people who were plunged into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a container ship.

Initial reports indicate that at least a dozen cars hit the 47 degree water in addition to a 20 or so construction workers who were working on the bridge at the time. The workers were pouring concrete on to the bridge at the time of crash.

At the first press conference around 6:30 am, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace could only confirm that two people were pulled from the water. One was unhurt, the other had to be rushed to a local hospital with 'serious injuries.'

Wallace said that workers are looking for 'upwards of seven' people but that the number of missing could change as the collapse is a 'very large incident.' The chief called the efforts a 'search and rescue' operation.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13239111/Maryland-Key-Bridge-collapses-struck-large-container-ship.html


videos embedded in article

[rustynail]

The Greens will sue the EPA to keep the port closed to restore the ecosystem and the EPA will settle.

[catfish1957]

The Greens will sue the EPA to keep the port closed to restore the ecosystem and the EPA will settle.

Blowing up infrastructure has long been a mode of operation of for eco-terrorist, especially in the Pacific Northwest.  I think there is a zero chance of terroism this time, due to timing (middle of the night). And as radical as the present EPA, they know that closing Baltimore's Harbor is a bad political move, especially in an election year. 

[Timber Rattler]

Shocking

I have now watched that video 20 times now, and something doesn't seem right. The nature of it collapsing  within seconds doesn't seem right.  Even as a suspension bridge, a more likely outcome would seem that this thing would have fallen in segments. 

I am not a civil engineer, but outside some serious structural maintenance or design issue, this  should have been confined within the piers struck.  In most areas of engineering, design and response are governed around doing exercises utilizing risk assessments nd worst case scenarios.  Was it underdesigned?  Failings in maintenance?

Not trying to stir up conspiracy theories this early on, but something doesn't seem to add up.

A moving containership has thousands of tons of momentum when in motion, so taking out the bridge by striking one of its central piers would have been like a bowling ball knocking over pins.

In watching video of the ship just before the accident, it appears to have lost power twice, with the lights going on and off.  See here:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/429086342860624

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4-PglsOAup/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[catfish1957]

A moving containership has thousands of tons of momentum when in motion, so taking out the bridge by striking one of its central piers would have been like a bowling ball knocking over pins.

In watching video of the ship just before the accident, it appears to have lost power twice, with the lights going on and off.  See here:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/429086342860624

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4-PglsOAup/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I understand the "bowling ball" concept.  But the almost simutaneous  nature of the fall seemed odd.  Also I have seen films of planned demos, where the destruction had to be staged, because of the inherent engineering criteria had a margin of safety and of over-design. 

In the petrochemical industry we incorprated Proocess Safety Managment, that incorporated as oone aspect design standards for worst case scenarios.  I am sure the bridge industry has something similar to mitigate not only preventing  adverse events, but it's level of impact.

 Just my $.02

[mystery-ak]

Who was up at 1:30am taping this video?

[Polly Ticks]

US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on social media that he was in contact with the mayor of Baltimore and the governor of Maryland, and had offered federal help.

That should inspire confidence that the situation is under control.   

[Lando Lincoln]

The path of the vessel, as depicted here, does make you go, “hmmm”.

[Lando Lincoln]

Who was up at 1:30am taping this video?

Probably a fixed, continuous recording station to monitor shipping traffic.

[catfish1957]

A moving containership has thousands of tons of momentum when in motion, so taking out the bridge by striking one of its central piers would have been like a bowling ball knocking over pins.

In watching video of the ship just before the accident, it appears to have lost power twice, with the lights going on and off.  See here:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/429086342860624

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4-PglsOAup/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

After watching a few other angles, it seems. a bit more plausible.  Think truss span design was deficient. Bridge was built in 1977, and don't know if alternatives were considered.   If the structure had been built more like a full concrete causway, I think the results would have been drasatically less disastrous.

[mystery-ak]

Probably a fixed, continuous recording station to monitor shipping traffic.

There are voices in the background in the video I heard...but your statement makes more sense..

[mystery-ak]

https://twitter.com/Brick_Suit/status/1772552045951852756

[mystery-ak]

[PeteS in CA]

Re the ship turning to starboard:

1. In what direction was the current/tide flowing?

2. With the loss of power aboard the ship, did the rudder turn/jam or get turned/jammed?

3. Is it possible to learn facts before conspiracy-theorizing? Waiting is less entertaining, of course.

[DCPatriot]

Probably a fixed, continuous recording station to monitor shipping traffic.

Was thinking the navigator tried to avoid crashing into the middle of a span and purposefully steered toward the concrete support, thinking it might absorb a lot of the impact.

We all know that short of dropping anchors immediately, you're not going to stop the ship.

Then people online starting suggesting "terrorism"...because until they clear the Patapsco River now, all shipping is halted.