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Posted (edited)

I have a lot of questions. A lot. The first of which being how that happens on a clear night with no appreciable weather.

 

The second is how does this happen when the ship has a harbor pilot on board and in command.

Edited by That's No Moon
Posted
Just now, aristocrat said:

Ship apparently lost power and steering so right into the bridge. let's hope the construction crew was on lunch and off the bridge. 

Same reason those ships collided in the Welland Canal a few years back.  One vessel lost steering control at a critical moment.

 

Posted

Terrible.  Thankfully there weren't a lot of cars on the bridge and 2 people (out of 7 missing last I heard) were rescued.

Posted

I used to live in Baltimore but rarely drove on the Key Bridge. I'm stunned at how easily the bridge went down. I thought those supports were sturdier.

  • Agree 2
Posted

This AM they said 2 people rescued, one in serious condition. Looking for at least 20 more people.

  • Sad 1
Posted
6 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

I used to live in Baltimore but rarely drove on the Key Bridge. I'm stunned at how easily the bridge went down. I thought those supports were sturdier.

Ships are really heavy and when moving represent a lot of kinetic energy. Bridges aren't built to withstand that. 

  • Like (+1) 2
Posted
6 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

Ships are really heavy and when moving represent a lot of kinetic energy. Bridges aren't built to withstand that. 

 

But what about the cement foundations? 

Posted
4 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

But what about the cement foundations? 

They aren't designed to handle lateral loads like that. They are designed to withstand compressing loads from above, not to be pushed over (or through) from the side.

  • Like (+1) 2
Posted
33 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

Ships are really heavy and when moving represent a lot of kinetic energy. Bridges aren't built to withstand that. 

 

27 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

But what about the cement foundations? 

 

20 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

They aren't designed to handle lateral loads like that. They are designed to withstand compressing loads from above, not to be pushed over (or through) from the side.

 

Bridges are supposed to have "dolphins" that protect the bridge piers:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin_(structure)

 

  • Like (+1) 1
Posted

you never know when may be your last moment on earth right? I mean these people doing their job or going about their business end up in a horrible accident.

 

Tell your people you love them every single day. Lord have mercy.

  • Agree 1
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, \GoBillsInDallas/ said:

 

 

 

Bridges are supposed to have "dolphins" that protect the bridge piers:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin_(structure)

 

Yep. And newly constructed bridges usually do but not always. The new Tappan Zee bridge doesn't have them. 

 

Fun fact, the picture of the Skyway in that Wikipedia site is of a bridge that was built to replace a bridge that was destroyed in the exact same way as the Key Bridge was today. Ship collision. Hence when they built its replacement protection from ship collision was a strong consideration.

 

The Key Bridge was built in 1977. There are TONS of older bridges in shipping lanes that don't have them. The South Grand Island Bridge is an example. The Bay Bridge in Annapolis doesn't have them either.

 

Whatever they replace the Key Bridge with won't be built the same way. It'll either have the biggest dolphins you've ever seen or be a different type of bridge that gets the support pillars much further out of the shipping channel so any ship would ground itself before hitting them.

Edited by That's No Moon
  • Like (+1) 1
Posted
18 minutes ago, That's No Moon said:

Yep. And newly constructed bridges usually do but not always. Fun fact, the picture of the Skyway in that Wikipedia site is of a bridge that was built to replace a bridge that was destroyed in the exact same way as the Key Bridge was today. Ship collision. Hence when they built its replacement protection from ship collision was a strong consideration.

 

The Key Bridge was built in 1977. There are TONS of older bridges in shipping lanes that don't have them. The South Grand Island Bridge is an example. The Bay Bridge in Annapolis doesn't have them either.

 

Whatever they replace the Key Bridge with won't be built the same way. It'll either have the biggest dolphins you've ever seen or be a different type of bridge that gets the support pillars much further out of the shipping channel so any ship would ground itself before hitting them.

 

Or a tunnel, like the I-95 Harbor Tunnel.

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