3 ms·
any idea why tugboats weren't standard issue going out of the port considering the potential damage economic and social of accidentally destroying this critical
by EasyMark 3y ago
any idea why tugboats weren't standard issue going out of the port considering the potential damage economic and social of accidentally destroying this critical bridge for Baltimore?
- devilsAdv0cate 3y ago[dead]
- hollerith 3y agoTugs were involved in helping the ship leave, but they were released before the accidently. The release was the decision of the pilot, who remaining in charge of the ship till the accident. If pilots are too liberal in their use of tugs, the ship owner becomes unhappy (because the ship owner ends up paying for them), and if they become unhappy enough, will stop using the port. I.e., pilots are under some pressure to keep the use of tugs to a minimum. Note that it is probably the pilot who advised authorities to stop cars from entering the bridge minutes before the accident, which is why the only deaths were a team of 6 construction workers working on the bridge.
- SoftTalker 3y agoI am surprised that they were able to get the bridge closed in just a minute or two. Unless there is a standing action plan for this (there may be) that seems like a really fast response. Possibly there are gates/stop lights that can be activated remotely?
- hollerith 3y agoApparently not: the MDoT dispatcher: "I need one of you guys on the south side, one of you guys on the north side. Hold all traffic on the Key Bridge." https://youtu.be/gafDs7sxJqg?si=hvLselyX9FQSczOH&t=98 https://youtu.be/gafDs7sxJqg?si=hvLselyX9FQSczOH&t=98 MDoT == Maryland Department of Transportation. Note that the pilots in command of the ship were also employed by the Maryland state government.