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USA, Baltimore: Bridge Collapse Closes Port for Commercial and Recreational Vessels

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore this week after being hit by a cargo ship, has closed one of the USA’s major east coast ports to commercial traffic and recreational vessels for the forseeable future. Regular Noonsite contributors Floris and Ivar (Sailors for Sustainability) sailed under the bridge just hours before it collapsed and provided a first-hand report for Noonsite readers.

Published 8 months ago

Update April 3, 2024 – small vessel channel opens
Update April 1, 2024 – by GCaptain

Bridge Collapse

The tragic chain of events began early Tuesday March 26, 2024, when the 984-foot cargo ship Dali notified authorities that it had lost power, just after leaving the port.  The vessel issued a Mayday moments before it slammed into a bridge support at a speed of 8 knots, which is about 9 mph.

The state of Maryland’s Governor, Wes Moore, declared a state of emergency while rescue crews using sonar detected at least five vehicles in the frigid 50-foot-deep water: three passenger cars, a cement truck and another vehicle of some kind.

The bridge is reported to have collapsed like a house of cards after it was struck by the container ship, with six people reported as missing according to authorities.

Sailing under the Francis Scott Key Bridge. (c) Sailors for Sustainability

Sailors for Sustainability stuck in Baltimore due to bridge collapse

Dutch sailors Floris and Ivar, the Sailors for Sustainability, arrived in Baltimore a week ago on their sailing yacht Lucipara 2. They report how they experienced the terrible bridge accident there and what it means for their journey.
“On Tuesday morning we woke up to terrible news: the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore had collapsed. Still in bed, we saw a video of a 900-foot container ship – the Dali – hitting a pillar, causing the steel bridge to collapse like a house of cards. Right now we are staying with friends here in Baltimore while our boat is safely docked in one of the marinas in downtown Baltimore. Yesterday we took our hostess for a day sail on Lucipara 2 through the bay. We sailed under the iconic bridge twice and captured images of it, just seven hours before the accident. We also passed by the Dali while it was still in the port.
Sailors for Sustainability Floris and Ivar sailed under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, just hours before it was hit by the cargo ship Dali. (c) Sailors for Sustainability.
“Since receiving the news, we have been inundated with messages from family and friends asking how things are going. We’ve been in front of the TV all day. The shock is enormous here. The bridge had been in use since 1977 and was an impressive structure. It was more than two kilometers long and had a clearance of almost 60 meters in the middle. More than 30,000 vehicles passed over it every day. We heard from the governor of Maryland that the pilots were able to send out a Mayday a few minutes before the collision, which meant that road traffic could be stopped. That probably prevented many casualties. Unfortunately, maintenance personnel were still working on the bridge. The bodies of two of them have been recovered, while four are still missing. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones.
“Naturally, an extensive investigation is being conducted into the cause. The FBI has ruled out a terrorist attack. The container ship appears to have suffered a technical failure as its lights went out and it made a sharp turn to starboard before slamming into the bridge. Furthermore, questions are being raised about the guardrail buffers around the bridge pillars and the speed at which the ship was sailing – about eight knots.
“Baltimore is an important commercial port. The collapse of the bridge completely cuts it off from the Chesapeake Bay and the rest of the world. The Americans will certainly do their best to reopen the passage as quickly as possible, but until then we are stuck here. Hopefully, that won’t take too long, so we’ll still be able to sail back home via Greenland and Iceland (the “Viking Route”) this summer.”

US Coast Guard Establishes Safety Zone

The US Coast Guard has established a safety zone for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2000-yard radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge following the accident.

The safety zone is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in these navigable waters.  No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from the Captain of the Port (COTP) or a designated representative.

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