Thoughts on the news. The Maryland Bridge Collapse • There won't be anyone else found alive. The time that someone can survive in water that cold is usually measured in minutes. • Not having tugboats guiding the ship past the bridge and not having major collision protection on the bridge supports will be major contributors to the collapse. • The quick response by the ship's crew and the authorities to shut down traffic saved many lives. • It is possible the military or other federal agency could construct a temporary bridge at a different location near the port to handle vehicle traffic. • Anticipate an incredible amount of pressure to conclude the investigation and expedite the clearing of the ship and wreckage so port traffic can resume. It's estimated that the closed port is losing 9 million in revenue daily. • The rebuild, because of @SecretaryPete's leadership, will be completed in record time. • The new bridge will likely be more of a suspension bridge with fewer or no supports in the high traffic area. It will also be higher. • The initial cost of the bridge will be covered by the federal government. Ultimately the owners of the ship and its insurance company will be required to reimburse the federal government and those suffering losses in revenues. • Efforts on the Right to politicize this issue will fail. • Those spreading conspiracy theories related to the bridge collapse should be shunned by society. • Tragedies can expose and lift leaders to prominence. Wes Moore, (D) the Governor of Maryland, couldn't have responded better. He just became a rising star on the national political landscape.
@naretevduorp My 1st thought was, why weren’t there tug boats maneuvering that monstrosity out of the harbor?
@Sbernat1Sue @naretevduorp There were 2 rugs with them until the ship reached the Channel
@Sbernat1Sue @naretevduorp I think we have seen too many aircraft carriers taken out of port. That was My First thought too.
@Sbernat1Sue @naretevduorp Well tugs are usually used when they are docking or leaving the dock. Tugs aren’t used when they are leaving the port. It’s a narrow channel. So tugs would take up precious space.
@Sbernat1Sue @naretevduorp It's a narrow channel and regulations for the port are that it is to be piloted out by a federally certified pilot. There's a thing called a swiss cheese model of failure. In this case, all the holes lined up and everything that could go wrong, just about did.
@Sbernat1Sue @naretevduorp Not entirely the same, I realize, but here in Vancouver, the cruise ships must be tugged out beyond our last bridge.