Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses !

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

Tugs at most harbors worldwide help with docking and undocking. It’s not common practice to stay tied to ships once they’re underway. That’s not the root cause of this. Even the article says they “might” have been able to prevent it.

You provide tugs based on the weight of the ship. Are you saying 4-6 tugs couldn’t have changed the ships course ?

[Steve_R]

Originally Posted by VatorMan

You provide tugs based on the weight of the ship. Are you saying 4-6 tugs couldn’t have changed the ships course ?

I can’t opine on how many tugs could stop or turn a 90,000 ton ship going 9 mph in less than a minute. That’s a whole lot of mass to stop quickly. I do know that tugs don’t usually stay tied to a large ship once it’s underway in the channel.

[ZipZap]

I watch San Diego port pretty regularly. For USN ships, they have escorts, not tugs, to get out of the bay. Commercial vessels have no help when under their own power.

[ZipZap]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

I can’t opine on how many tugs could stop or turn a 90,000 ton ship going 9 mph in less than a minute. That’s a whole lot of mass to stop quickly. I do know that tugs don’t usually stay tied to a large ship once it’s underway in the channel.

The only way that works is if the tugs are providing power and the boat is a barge. $2 more for each Amazon delivery.

The 12-24 month thing today from NTSB was total BS. I don't need to wait for the bridge engineer's report on how to make sure this does not happen again to see WTF happened on the boat. They may already know.

[John Wiz]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

I can’t opine on how many tugs could stop or turn a 90,000 ton ship going 9 mph in less than a minute. That’s a whole lot of mass to stop quickly. I do know that tugs don’t usually stay tied to a large ship once it’s underway in the channel.

The tugs would not have to stop it, they would only have to keep it in the center of the channel and guide it clear of the bridge.

[Newby]

Originally Posted by John Wiz

The tugs would not have to stop it, they would only have to keep it in the center of the channel and guide it clear of the bridge.

at 0126:39 - the pilot made a general VHF call for tug assistance.

There were 2 local pilots on board
The collision sounds began at 0129:00 and continued until 0129:33

[VatorMan]

Originally Posted by John Wiz

The tugs would not have to stop it, they would only have to keep it in the center of the channel and guide it clear of the bridge.

Thank you. Finally some sense in this thread. Tugs cost money. Money that has to be accounted for in logistics of any item. If Baltimore had enforced a tug escort to and from the port based on weight, the cost may make a shipper choose Charleston over Baltimore. It’s all about the $.

I won’t blame either political party in this matter, and truthfully, can’t blame anyone except for piss poor luck.

But Tugs could have prevented this.

[slewfoot]

[Vette40th]

This bridge collapse has a small National Defense Problem too. Per this article.
"Six of those RRF ships — all roll-on/roll-off cargo ships — are assigned to Baltimore, according to the list. Those include the SS Antares, the MV Cape Washington, the MV Cape Wrath, the MV Charles L. Gilliland, the SS Denebola, and the MV Gary I. Gordon.

Breitbart News asked the DOT to confirm how many NDRF and/or RRF ships were stuck in Baltimore, but the agency has not responded.

Deputy Coast Guard Commandant Peter Gautier, during a White House press conference on Wednesday, said that there were “about a dozen ships” that remained in the port that were unable to get out, with the majority of those being foreign-flagged vessels. However, he added, “There are a number of Maritime Administration ships that are there as well.” Bloomberg reported there were at least 21 ships in the port.

According to CEO of GCaptain and maritime journalist John Konrad, four RRF ships are stuck in the port — the Antares, Cape Washington, Gary I. Gordon, and the Denebola.

He said the four ships being stuck is a “huge problem if a war starts [but] not much of a problem if the next few months are peaceful.”

“The big problem with that is two of the stuck ships are SL-7 rapid response ships,” he said, referring to the Antares and the Denebola. “SL-7s are the first to go if the balloon goes up because no other cargo ships have their speed,” he said.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2...uck-in-harbor/

[ZipZap]

I gotta believe they will clear a channel pretty quickly, and then worry about the other stuff.

[Vette40th]

I would think they would, if the People running the show know the importance of it all.
The enemy now knows.

[Tikiman]

Brandon says that Bootyjuice will get right on it just as soon as he's done chest feeding his baby.