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The VAG port quays are south of the bridge and may not have been impacted depending on what the port authority chooses to do with inbound traffic. This topic is also being covered in this thread:
This is bad stuff. Baltimore is the biggest roll on/roll off port in the country, which is what the car carriers need. It's not just access to the docks, the car transporters probably have to use that bridge also to move product - and its gone now, and rebuilding it will take 2+ years I imagine. VAG better start looking for some berths in NJ.
This is bad stuff. Baltimore is the biggest roll on/roll off port in the country, which is what the car carriers need. It's not just access to the docks, the car transporters probably have to use that bridge also to move product - and its gone now, and rebuilding it will take 2+ years I imagine. VAG better start looking for some berths in NJ.
This is going to affect the entire US economy.
I imagine the cleanup would be fairly quick since initial reports say there's no oil/environmental damage. Sparrows Point will be the least affected of the 3 ports inside the Port of Baltimore; it's going to be issues surrounding the bridge and how product get moved. My 992 is arriving in Baltimore next week, so we will see what the impact is to delivery. 695 is literally a circle, so at a minimum they can just go the long-way round (probably adds an hour or two, not accounting for the increase in traffic).
I really hope everyone on that bridge is okay (I know they're not). I've driven across that bridge multiple times before, this unlocked a new fear for me.
Last edited by whatsshakin; 03-26-2024 at 10:58 AM.
This is bad stuff. Baltimore is the biggest roll on/roll off port in the country, which is what the car carriers need. It's not just access to the docks, the car transporters probably have to use that bridge also to move product - and its gone now, and rebuilding it will take 2+ years I imagine. VAG better start looking for some berths in NJ.
This is going to affect the entire US economy.
I think focusing on loss of life vs potential economic fallout is probably priority.
How does this even happen in today's world? Sad all around.
Ships in the Port of Baltimore are required to be piloted by a local trained pilot, who has at least 5 years experience, a degree from a maritime merchants academy (or equivalent). They meet all inbound ships at the mouth of the Chesapeake and pilot them to/from their docks. This one had 2 pilots onboard. Apparently there were power issues (seen in the horrid crash video), and a distress call went out 6 minutes before the crash occurred. Transit officials were able to block off the bridge during those 6 minutes, minimizing the amount of vehicles onboard the bridge -- but there were DOT employees repairing the road as well who weren't able to evacuate in time.
It looks like a tragic accident, but it also looks like there were issues with the ship (it had been noted to have issues with its propulsion system, and the owner of the ship declined to comment if they have been resolved. The ship was also involved in a crash in 2016, but had been repaired). I'm not going to speculate on liability, but the cost of this crash is several lives and billions in both repairs and lost opportunity cost.
The Port has halted all maritime traffic, but trucks are still 'being processed' at the port (whatever that means -- assuming cargo trucks picking up product?).
Last edited by whatsshakin; 03-26-2024 at 01:39 PM.
Ships in the Port of Baltimore are required to be piloted by a local trained pilot, who has at least 5 years experience, a degree from a maritime merchants academy (or equivalent). They meet all inbound ships at the mouth of the Chesapeake and pilot them to/from their docks. This one had 2 pilots onboard. Apparently there were power issues (seen in the horrid crash video), and a distress call went out 6 minutes before the crash occurred. Transit officials were able to block off the bridge during those 6 minutes, minimizing the amount of vehicles onboard the bridge -- but there were DOT employees repairing the road as well who weren't able to evacuate in time.
It looks like a tragic accident, but it also looks like there were issues with the ship (it had been noted to have issues with its propulsion system, and the owner of the ship declined to comment if they have been resolved. The ship was also involved in a crash in 2016, but had been repaired). I'm not going to speculate on liability, but the cost of this crash is several lives and billions in both repairs and lost opportunity cost.
The Port has halted all maritime traffic, but trucks are still 'being processed' at the port (whatever that means -- assuming cargo trucks picking up product?).
Thanks for the clarification. Sounds like an accident for sure. I didn't realize the ship lost power. Makes a lot more sense now. Prayers to all involved!
It's one of the worst bridge disasters in US history. If the collapse had happened at a time when traffic was backed up on the bridge, the loss of life could have been enormous.
03-26-2024, 08:31 AM
Port of Baltimore bridge struck by freighter, collapses
