Baltimore, MD - Container Ship Strikes Francis Scott Key Bridge - Mass Casualty Situation

[Seattle1]

The quick actions seem to have stopped others entering the bridge - I’m guessing those missing are all road crew I really hope they are found before darkness falls - I wonder was any contact tried to be made with the road crew in the minutes leading up to the collision

^^RSBBM
From the scanner communication, they were working on getting in contact with the foreman when you hear another call come in announcing the entire bridge went down. This happened in less than 2 minutes! They were able to stop traffic but does not appear they had time to make contact with the Contractor.

Mar 26, 2024
The Maryland Transportation Authority Police Dispatch and Response to the Key Bridge Collapse. Officials saved numerous lives shutting down the bridge just before the collision and collapse. Unfortunately, construction workers on the bridge were not able to evacuate in time. All times in the video are in Central Time Zone.

 

[TravelingBug]

Have you watched the video? From first lights out to impact, it's about forty seconds. I'm honestly surprised they had time to prevent more people driving onto the bridge. That crew acted fast, they knew they were in trouble, and they told people on land immediately. There is no doubt they saved lives.

There is no way a tug could have got to them in time, or arrested the momentum.

MOO

Listening to police scanner traffic posted on a news site earlier, as the mayday call went out and they asked units to respond to stop traffic onto the bridge, the call had hardly gone out when one officer was already on scene (I believe he was stopping SB traffic onto it).

Had he even just passed it and had to turn around or back up in the shoulder or wait for someone else, even the difference of those few seconds would probably have meant more lives lost.

That officer was waiting for backup and then he was going to drive onto the bridge to notify the foreman (sometimes road repair / construction crews have someone staged further out with officers, in which case they'd have been able to radio to the workers on the bridge, but that obviously wasn't the case here).

He both saved lives being in the right place to stop traffic, but likely has his own life because no back up had yet arrived.

It was such a ::very short:: time between his own arrival and the bridge collapse that it shows had he not been where he was driving just as the call to stop traffic came out, there almost certainly would have been civilian vehicle traffic/drivers also lost on the bridge since no other units could get there in the minute or so between the mayday call and the collapse.

 

[iamshadow21]

Army Corps of Engineers to help to clear the channel of debris.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/26/us/baltimore-bridge-collapse/3d35dc2b-bea6-5701-a131-314c204beb13?smid=url-share

 

[Herat]

Using locals doesn't erase the risk, but does make it far less likely there will be a disaster like this. These people, it is their job to get ships in and out of the harbour safely. Then they do it all again, and again, and again. Nobody knows their waters better. That's why similar systems are in place in most ports in the whole world.

But, like in an air disaster, it doesn't matter how good a pilot you are if the ship you are piloting malfunctions in a catastrophic way. It's not like you can paddle a skyscraper safely to shore. These ships are as steerable as an asteroid without power to the controls. They will go where their momentum and the currents take them.

MOO

I'm fascinated by the job of being a Harbor Pilot.

Harbor pilots are a standard feature of large-vessel or deep water port shipping. They are licensed, experienced, and know the details of the port and the conditions. They usually join the ship before it enters the harbor and then take control until docking is complete. Ditto on the departure, they pilot the ship out beyond the harbor limit , and then are returned by small boat.

"Each ship engaged in foreign trade coming to Maryland ports is required to take on a local ship handling specialist, known as the Pilot, to navigate the vessel safely into port. Pilots are regulated by the State of Maryland under the Department of Labor, State Board of Pilots.

High-risk Job​

The risks harbor pilots face are unlike those faced by any other mariner. Harbor pilots are transferred from pilot boats at sea onto and off of extremely large moving vessels, often during poor weather conditions and rough seas.
Once the pilot boat maneuvers alongside the ship, a harbor pilot boards the ship by stepping or leaping onto a rope ladder hanging from the ship’s side. The harbor pilot climbs the ladder, up to 30 feet high, to the top of the main deck and proceeds to the bridge. It is important to note that harbor pilots are frequently injured and sometimes killed in the course of this dangerous transfer. Once onboard, it is the harbor pilot’s job to familiarize him or herself with the ship’s navigational equipment, performance characteristics and mechanical conditions, and then direct the movement of the ship, often while dealing with a foreign crew that speaks limited to no English.

In the course of piloting the vessels, it is important that harbor pilots remain vigilant, as the slightest misjudgment or lapse of concentration can lead to disaster. The magnitude of the risks involved are very high – loss of life and massive environmental and property damage. In the event of such an accident, harbor pilots not only face the loss of their license, but the end of their career, personal financial ruin with massive uninsurable liabilities and possible imprisonment.

The vast majority of harbor pilots have graduated from a four-year federal or state maritime academy, which are equivalent to the nation’s military academies, demanding a high level of scholastic performance in a military environment. A graduate of one of these maritime academies earns a bachelor’s degree and a U.S. Coast Guard license as a deck officer-third mate unlimited.

This website for the Maryland Pilots Association is interesting.

The small section on the Baltimore harbor notes how important this harbor is for inbound automobile shipments.

The Association of Maryland Pilots

www.mdpilots.com

The Port of Baltimore​

The Port of Baltimore ranks 1st nationally in automobiles and light trucks, 1st in Ro/Ro [ Roll-on, Roll-off ]
cargo, 1st in gypsum imports, 2nd in imported sugar, and 2nd in exported coal. Overall, Baltimore ranks 9th nationally in cargo value, and 11th in total tonnage (2019 data). More than 125,000 jobs in Maryland are related to the maritime industry. One ship can carry nearly 7,000 cars, 14,000 truck-sized 20’ containers, 3500 passengers & crew, or 1000 railcar loads of coal, sometimes valued at nearly $500 million. The least expensive overland route to the massive Midwest market starts at the Port of Baltimore."



Harbor Pilot at the helm with an idea of the obstacles to deal with, in good weather. (Port of Miami)

https://floridapilots.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/pilot-conning.jpg

 

[iamshadow21]

I think the anchor could have been what caused the boat to veer right at the last moment to strike the support column head on.

But that anchor is on the left of the ship, as you're facing the bow from the deck. If it alone was deployed, then wouldn't the ship veer towards it, rather than right?

MOO

 

[Seattle1]

I started following this tragedy (and posting here) within minutes of the bridge going down!

The ship has a "black box" (voyage data recorder - VDR). Ultimately, there will be answers if the vessel lost propulsion, steering, or both.

Visually, we know there were at least two power outages.

Also important to recognize the size of the ship -- the length is about 3 football fields long! And we can see it's fully loaded.

In perfect conditions, even after dropping anchor, moving at 8 knots, it would take better than the length of 6 football fields to stop and/or gain control of the vessel. MOO

 

[Herat]

Currently, 15:25 EST, there is no air traffic near the bridge that I can see on FR24

Marine traffic shows 9 vessels in the area, a mixture of Army Corps of Engineers, LE, SAR, survey vessels, tugs, tenders, dredgers

There are 4 bulk carriers in various areas of the port in Baltimore, one of them a car carrier and there is also an oil/chemical carrier

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-76.512/centery:39.213/zoom:14

 

[iamshadow21]

Striking before and after satellite photos. The after shows very well the angle the ship ended up on, but also just how far forward the pylon struck was shifted from its original position.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/26/us/baltimore-bridge-collapse/2439c57b-7944-5d0b-96da-33b9d2a0728a?smid=url-share

 

[Seattle1]

NTSB officials provide update on investigation into Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse​

 

[iamshadow21]

"An abundance of twisted metal and debris" means it's unsafe for divers, underwater drones reveal.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/26/us/baltimore-bridge-collapse/1a10583f-5aff-5c4f-a505-0bc2a65d9518?smid=url-share

 

[Dotta]

Harrowing audio of Baltimore cops rushing to stop traffic over bridge

'I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side, hold all traffic on the Key Bridge,' one person is heard saying.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The timeline starts approximately six minutes (1:25 a.m.) before the container ship DALI struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge. At that point, the ship can be seen completely dark without any lights.

At this time, traffic was still moving across the bridge and it appeared that the construction crew was in the middle of the bridge. Then, around 1:26 a.m., the ship's power appeared to come back on and smoke started to billow.

It was around 1:27 a.m. that a couple of vehicles could be seen going across the bridge span just before the ship crashed into the bridge at 1:28 a.m. The bridge collapsed into the river around six seconds after being hit.

It is believed that a Mayday call from the ship to officials with the bridge alerted them about the possible collision, and they were able to close the roadway in time to prevent any motorist from crossing. The only vehicles believed to be on the bridge belonged to the construction crew.

A second-by-second breakdown leading up to the Baltimore bridge collapse

Investigative reporter Tolly Taylor shows you a second-by-second breakdown of when the container ship collided with the Key Bridge early Tuesday morning

www.wbaltv.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Mary D. Kane, president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, said 35,000 people use the Francis Scott Key Bridge daily and the Port of Baltimore generates more than 15,000 direct jobs, with nearly 140,000 jobs linked to the port’s activities.

“The economic impact that’s going to be felt by Baltimore and the state of Maryland is incomprehensible,” Kane said in a phone call Tuesday. “It doesn’t just affect Maryland. This affects the entire east coast up to the Mississippi.”

Baltimore bridge: Economy could lose $15M daily from 'incomprehensible' collapse

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge above the Patapsco River is likely to have a dramatic impact on port operations and on regional shipping.

thedailyrecord.com

Leon, the Virginia Tech professor, said lessons can be learned and improvements can be made following this disaster. For example, bridge cameras and sensors can be used to track when a cargo ship heads off course and communicate with traffic lights and gates at bridge entrances.

“I think that our mission now is to learn from this failure and learn at all levels,” Leon said.

What we know about the Baltimore bridge collapse

The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic.

apnews.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

There were 35 major bridge collapses due to a ship or barge collision worldwide from 1960 to 2015, killing 342 people, per a 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.

Eighteen of those 35 collapses occurred in the United States.

Key Bridge’s collapse adds to list of U.S. bridge disasters

There were 18 major bridge collapses due to a ship or barge collision in the United States from 1960 to 2015, according to a 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.

cnsmaryland.org

 

[Seattle1]

Alex Caprariello
@alcaprari23

Woke up this morning to news of the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Shocking and tragic. I got on the first flight I could. Here is the distant view of the collapse from my plane. I'll be on scene in half an hour. Follow for updates.

9:03 AM · Mar 26, 2024 from Baltimore, MD

https://twitter.com/x/status/1772655697785700417

 

[Hope32]

Fascinating interview (CBS news video) and discussion is with a very experienced atty in maritime issues and an advisor at other harbors, James McCanty ("phonetic" spelling of his last name...prolly spelled differently) But, I digress...he had an interesting tidbit on what "should or has been done when ships lose power/steering/thrust etc and he says/implies "immediately dropping anchors" could have slowed down the ship. But is reserving final conclusion until "black box-type" recording of actual events is retrieved and examined. (New York board of pilot commissioners etc...very knowledgable man.)
His interview is intriguing, nonetheless.

I went down a true crime rabbit hole on youtube and ended up on Maritime Disasters page. Talking in depth about alot of the ships that have sunk. This lead to bridge collapse's on youtube. The channel Brick Immortar does video essays on all the major collapses. This seems similar to the SunShine Parkway collapse. These guys know the routes but dropping anchor on a ship that heavy...

 

[lovemyhuskies]

How long was this ship at port? Someone upthread mentioned they were here longer than previous ports. I'd like to know if they had any maintenance done while in this port, and whether it was routine, scheduled maintenance, or an emergent situation.

 

[sds71]

—
A body has been recovered from the Patapsco River in the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, City Council Member Phylicia Porter told CNN’s Boris Sanchez.

The collapse occurred after a massive container ship lost power early Tuesday and crashed into the bridge, sending people and vehicles into the frigid river, officials said.

A US Coast Guard spokesperson said the agency is still searching for six missing individuals. Those six are believed to be part of a construction crew repairing potholes on the bridge remain unaccounted for, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said at a news conference Tuesday.


Earlier, two people were pulled from the Patapsco River, Baltimore City Fire Department Chief James Wallace said. One was not injured and the other was taken to a local trauma center in “very serious condition,” he said. A patient being treated at the University of Maryland Medical Center was discharged later Tuesday, the hospital said in a statement.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/26/us/baltimore-key-bridge-collapse-tuesday/index.html?Date=20240326&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1711482360&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“I’m very sad right now,” Campos said. “These are my co-workers and friends.”

Campos, who speaks only Spanish, said working on the bridge is harrowing. Construction crews are continually worried about speeding motorists, and the bridge “moves a lot” because of its design and engineering. Last year, six road construction workers were killed when a motorist barreled into them along a busy highway in Baltimore County.
Campos said all eight of his colleagues had been on a meal break, sitting in or near their vehicles, when the massive container ship Dali slammed into the bridge, causing the collapse.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/26/victims-baltimore-key-bridge-collapse/

Body pulled from river after Baltimore bridge collapse

A body has reportedly been discovered during the search for six missing construction workers who fell into the river when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[iamshadow21]

“I’m very sad right now,” Campos said. “These are my co-workers and friends.”

Campos, who speaks only Spanish, said working on the bridge is harrowing. Construction crews are continually worried about speeding motorists, and the bridge “moves a lot” because of its design and engineering. Last year, six road construction workers were killed when a motorist barreled into them along a busy highway in Baltimore County.
Campos said all eight of his colleagues had been on a meal break, sitting in or near their vehicles, when the massive container ship Dali slammed into the bridge, causing the collapse.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/03/26/victims-baltimore-key-bridge-collapse/

Body pulled from river after Baltimore bridge collapse

A body has reportedly been discovered during the search for six missing construction workers who fell into the river when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed.

www.dailymail.co.uk

According to that article, vehicles seen include three passenger vehicles, one cement truck, and another vehicle.

So the truck sized vehicle they've been talking about since the beginning was probably the cement truck. I thought it might be cement or asphalt. No idea what the other vehicle is but perhaps a ute or van with tools needed, road signs, etc? I can't imagine those things would be in people's personal cars or on the cement truck, as the whole back of them tends to be taken up by the mixer.

MOO