Key bridge in Baltimore collapses after cargo ship crashes into it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to agree with the earlier PP--are cargo ships normally piled this high? this one looks like it has a very high pile of cargo on it and how is that even secured? I can imagine things shifting or moving as this ship hits waves out at sea.

This is really not that hard to find out on the interwebs.
They are piled very high. They are topheavy. They have things figured out about going into the ocean. They've been doing it for years. You can unload that ship in hours, not days. That's the beauty(?) of containers.

Sometimes they lose some containers, such as the famous container of rubber ducks.
https://www.npr.org/2011/03/29/134923863/moby-duck-when-28-800-bath-toys-are-lost-at-sea

And Garfield clocks! https://time.com/5561165/garfield-phones-france/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to agree with the earlier PP--are cargo ships normally piled this high? this one looks like it has a very high pile of cargo on it and how is that even secured? I can imagine things shifting or moving as this ship hits waves out at sea.

Things do shift and it’s not uncommon for containers to fall off cargo ships in the open ocean.

[Anonymous]

There's an amazing museum in Mobile Alabama by the docks called the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico if you're ever down that way. It's designed to be like the inside of a container ship, and explains how container shipping developed and works.

https://nmmog.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to set up a ferry for locals. Something like within X miles of the bridge and only provide it for locals.

I cant imagine living in Sparrows Point and commuting to Glen Burnie for work and then your 20 min commute turns into 1.5 hours. Or vice versa. The surrounding areas are mostly working class and cannot afford this- in time or in funds.

I am somewhat familiar with both of these areas. I just did a Google map search and it would take 35 minutes using the Ft McHenry tunnell. It's not great but it's not 1.5 hours.

If you can use the tunnel efficiently and if traffic doesnt get worse because now a whole section of 695 is closed. Sparrows Point to GB was calculated at 20 minutes last Friday. Next Friday- non spring break traffic- is 30-50 and thats not including summer or winter break traffic or when the tunnel isnt having lanes closed for maintenance or accidents, etc.
And Im not convinced google maps can anticipate the rise in traffic flow because I thought it was based on previous data.

The 1.5 hour time is probably a bit hyperbolic but I know my life would be in an upheaval if my commute doubled adding minmum 40-60 minutes to my day. Having kids and working is a delicate balance.
Its great the shipping lanes will re-open and the port gets re-opened but this is minimum 4 years. Local residents will need alternative means and they should be a top priority.

I always had an EzPass when living in Baltimore so I cant remember individual tolls costs, just that it was X amount every month- is there a price difference in toll between McHenry and Key ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to agree with the earlier PP--are cargo ships normally piled this high? this one looks like it has a very high pile of cargo on it and how is that even secured? I can imagine things shifting or moving as this ship hits waves out at sea.

This is a normalized method of shipping in these times, and yes, the bottom of the ocean is littered with containers that break free and fall off container ships in very rough weather.

According to a World Shipping Council (WSC) report, up to 1,382 shipping containers are lost at sea each year. The figure is based on three year averages calculated over a 12-year period – which represents 80% of the global vessel container capacity. This was up until 2019.

The WSC Containers Lost at Sea Report – 2023 Update reports that in 2022, 661 containers were lost at sea. This represents less than one thousandth of 1% (0.00048%) of the 250 million containers currently shipped each year, with cargo transported valued at more than $7 trillion.May 22, 2023

People who sail smaller vessels on the open ocean are at risk of collision with floating castoff containers as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to agree with the earlier PP--are cargo ships normally piled this high? this one looks like it has a very high pile of cargo on it and how is that even secured? I can imagine things shifting or moving as this ship hits waves out at sea.

I am in Stevensville on the Bay where there are currently about 8 ships in a hold before the Bay bridge. I see container ships every single day. Yes, they are normally piled that high.

Wait to you see a car carrier and realize that there are thousands of cars inside that ship.

[Anonymous]

News reporting 2 bodies have been recovered in a vehicle and have been brought on shore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if this was already asked, but how do cargo ships typically pass through/by the bridge? Do they usually go under, and this ship hit the pylon instead? I do not think there is a drawbridge. That ship seemed piled high with cargo. It doesn't look like it would have fit going under the bridge.

The bridge used to be taller.

For safety it should be two or three times taller than the tallest ship. I read about bridges once in school. /s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:News reporting 2 bodies have been recovered in a vehicle and have been brought on shore.

So very sad.

[Anonymous]

I still cannot believe that two workers survived and were pulled from the water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if this was already asked, but how do cargo ships typically pass through/by the bridge? Do they usually go under, and this ship hit the pylon instead? I do not think there is a drawbridge. That ship seemed piled high with cargo. It doesn't look like it would have fit going under the bridge.

The bridge used to be taller.

For safety it should be two or three times taller than the tallest ship. I read about bridges once in school. /s

People are already scared to cross the Bay Bridge in their cars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if this was already asked, but how do cargo ships typically pass through/by the bridge? Do they usually go under, and this ship hit the pylon instead? I do not think there is a drawbridge. That ship seemed piled high with cargo. It doesn't look like it would have fit going under the bridge.

The bridge used to be taller.

For safety it should be two or three times taller than the tallest ship. I read about bridges once in school. /s

What school was that? Not civil engineering school I'm guessing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if this was already asked, but how do cargo ships typically pass through/by the bridge? Do they usually go under, and this ship hit the pylon instead? I do not think there is a drawbridge. That ship seemed piled high with cargo. It doesn't look like it would have fit going under the bridge.

The bridge used to be taller.

For safety it should be two or three times taller than the tallest ship. I read about bridges once in school. /s

What school was that? Not civil engineering school I'm guessing.

You seem to have missed the /s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if this was already asked, but how do cargo ships typically pass through/by the bridge? Do they usually go under, and this ship hit the pylon instead? I do not think there is a drawbridge. That ship seemed piled high with cargo. It doesn't look like it would have fit going under the bridge.

The bridge used to be taller.

For safety it should be two or three times taller than the tallest ship. I read about bridges once in school. /s

What school was that? Not civil engineering school I'm guessing.

Sarcasm school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forgive me if this was already asked, but how do cargo ships typically pass through/by the bridge? Do they usually go under, and this ship hit the pylon instead? I do not think there is a drawbridge. That ship seemed piled high with cargo. It doesn't look like it would have fit going under the bridge.

The bridge used to be taller.

For safety it should be two or three times taller than the tallest ship. I read about bridges once in school. /s

People are already scared to cross the Bay Bridge in their cars.

I just assumed they were witches. Science and all that.