Baltimore Bridge Collapse

[Tarsonis]

Indeed. I'd bet even John Augustus Roebling never considered whether the Brooklyn Bridge would withstand terrorist attacks.

The world has changed all around it...

Fresh, creamery terrorism. Is there nothing more confusing?

[Katganistan]

The trick is to not have big ships hit them.

Aww, the little ships say they're feeling neglected.

A smaller freighter caused this....

[Cannot think of a name]

Meanwhile..

“Nothing is safe,” wrote “manosphere” influencer Andrew Tate on X, about six hours after a container ship collided with the bridge. “Black Swan Event imminent.”

“This is a BLACK SWAN event,” asserted Gen Mike Flynn, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, on X. Others, including Benny Johnson, Laura Loomer and some verified QAnon-affiliated accounts, also latched on to the “black swan event” language, many claiming that the collapse was terrorism related.

“Looks deliberate to me. A cyber-attack is probable. WW3 has already started,” wrote Infowars’ Alex Jones on X.

A black swan event has been co-opted by the right to describe a deliberate act by the government to distract from some major move by the Deep State to destroy America.

I was reading that going, "Wait, that's not what that concept is for..."

Like everything else they've ruined as a concept they started in the right place then took an immediate right turn.

[Cannot think of a name]

In HK they're considering not having a port at all, instead the ships slows as it passes, is off-loaded on the move, re-loaded on the move and then off it goes.

Shipping is about shaving minutes and hours off the time it takes to traverse from one port to another, actually docking is inefficient.

As I understand it, that crane operator job is already pretty stressful.

But honestly if they can pull that off...

[Cannot think of a name]

It's probably not a bad idea for Baltimore to build a spanking new port anyway, the newer MV Class ships are fucking enormous and ports need to adjust much as airports did when the Airbus 300 came out.

Building a new port would upgrade Baltimore, create jobs, the old port is prime real estate that can be re-fitted into housing, arcades, shopping for tourism..

..frankly there are many reasons for building a new port in a space a little more suited.

Unless you don't want to trash more of the Chesapeake Bay environment. Building a better bridge, surrounded by piers or an artificial island is a much cheaper and quicker task.

Yeah, the Emperor Norton (SF/Oakland Bay Bridge for pleebs) and Golden Gate bridge have little concrete halos around the base of the support poles and that has a shitton of marine traffic going through it every day.

[Socialist Gestachia]

Considering that the FHWA is going to pay up I do have to wonder if they are going to rebuild it as a tunnel as originally planned before it decided that a bridge would be cheeper...

[The World Defense Organization]

Slightly late, but I think they found 2 bodies
https://people.com/baltimore-key-bridge ... ed-8621059

[Cannot think of a name]

Many Trucks have to take alternate routes as there is a height restriction and hazardous materials are banned.

That too. That bridge needs to be rebuilt ASAP because until it is shipping from the port will be impacted, which basically affects the supply lines of the Eastern Seaboard.

Sending stuff on 40 or 1... those roads are not meant for that volume of traffic.

Apparently most of the European cars and light trucks go through Baltimore because it's especially suited for it. So it's not just a matter of redirecting those loads, those loads are going to ports not as well suited to offload cars which then has a cascading effect on other displaced goods. But in the grand scheme of things it's just one of many disruptions.

At least according to this.

I wasn't a pocket expert on Baltimore ports or shipping or anything. I'm not so into cars that i know their port of entry.

[The Archregimancy]

That too. That bridge needs to be rebuilt ASAP because until it is shipping from the port will be impacted, which basically affects the supply lines of the Eastern Seaboard.

Sending stuff on 40 or 1... those roads are not meant for that volume of traffic.

Apparently most of the European cars and light trucks go through Baltimore because it's especially suited for it. So it's not just a matter of redirecting those loads, those loads are going to ports not as well suited to offload cars which then has a cascading effect on other displaced goods. But in the grand scheme of things it's just one of many disruptions.

At least according to this.

I wasn't a pocket expert on Baltimore ports or shipping or anything. I'm not so into cars that i know their port of entry.

Not in any way, shape, or form an expert on container ports - and my past publications on global trade are unhelpfully focused on the late 18th and 19th centuries, so not particularly helpful here - but I've found a couple of online resources helpful in understanding the potential impacts of a long-term closure of Baltimore's container port.

1) the Wikipedia article on the Port of Baltimore: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_of_Baltimore The 'current operations' section is particularly helpful in providing a brief summary with citations.

2) this recent Guardian article specifically focusing on supply chain disruptions: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/202 ... ng-traffic

From this, the two main impacts would appear to be:

A) Importing motor vehicles and vehicle parts. Baltimore is the largest 'roll-on/roll-off' container port for vehicles in the US, and this trade accounts for 42% of Baltimore imports.

B) Coal exports. Baltimore accounts for a quarter of US coal exports, and is the second-busiest coal exporting port in the US (which in turns seems to indicate that just two ports handle at least 50% of US coal exports; don't know offhand what the other one is).

While the former may have the greater impact in the US, the latter will likely have the greatest impact internationally, because the most important market for that coal is power generation in India. So this threatens to have a significant impact on India's economy, with the potential for broader global knock-on impacts - and will do nothing to ease India away from reliance on Russian fossil fuels, which may in turn have broader political impacts given Modi's approach to the Ukraine war. I imagine the authorities and coal mine owners in West Virginia and Pennsylvania are also less than thrilled over the implications for their state and regional economies.

I suppose there's an environmental argument for not being too disappointed at a global turn-down in coal production and consumption, and if this speeds up India turning away from fossil fuels and towards alternative energy sources, there may also be an argument that there could be a longer-term benefit. But in terms of short-term consequences, the impacts in our modern globalised world are themselves globally significant.

[Nantoraka]

Meanwhile..

“Nothing is safe,” wrote “manosphere” influencer Andrew Tate on X, about six hours after a container ship collided with the bridge. “Black Swan Event imminent.”

“This is a BLACK SWAN event,” asserted Gen Mike Flynn, Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, on X. Others, including Benny Johnson, Laura Loomer and some verified QAnon-affiliated accounts, also latched on to the “black swan event” language, many claiming that the collapse was terrorism related.

“Looks deliberate to me. A cyber-attack is probable. WW3 has already started,” wrote Infowars’ Alex Jones on X.

A black swan event has been co-opted by the right to describe a deliberate act by the government to distract from some major move by the Deep State to destroy America.

I was reading that going, "Wait, that's not what that concept is for..."

Like everything else they've ruined as a concept they started in the right place then took an immediate right turn.

The GOP just can't help but turn a tragedy into a political problem, can they?
Damn terrorists! This is their greatest attack yet! Attacking a locally famous bridge...in the middle of the night...long after rush hour traffic has stopped...then issuing an SOS signal to evacuate the bridge...and doing everything in their power to avoid the crash while on fire.

We must deploy back to the SANDBOX!!!!!

[Emotional Support Crocodile]

Meanwhile..

“Nothing is safe,” wrote “manosphere” influencer Andrew Tate on X, about six hours after a container ship collided with the bridge. “Black Swan Event imminent.”

Feminist space lasers

[Australian rePublic]

And of course the brain dead conspiracy theories have already started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YH17ZKRx4xQ

Somehow Paul Joseph Watson's conspiracy theory is even worse than the attack was deliberate conspiracy theories, (a conspiracy theory that he disparages) (his reasoning is because it was staffed by incompetent ethnic minorities)

[Australian rePublic]

Judgment of God for making the bridge a toll road?

We have 13 toll roads in Sydney and pay more than any other city in the world in tolls (probably combined). if you're correct, I'm starting to fear that the M8 tunnel will collapse... although the amount of over-height trucks that get stuck in tunnels probably more than compensates for that

[Turenia]

Apparently the police efforts to prevent vehicles from driving onto the bridge was successful, and there were apparently no private vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed.

Kudos to the Police.

[Ethel mermania]

I was reading that going, "Wait, that's not what that concept is for..."

Like everything else they've ruined as a concept they started in the right place then took an immediate right turn.

The GOP just can't help but turn a tragedy into a political problem, can they?
Damn terrorists! This is their greatest attack yet! Attacking a locally famous bridge...in the middle of the night...long after rush hour traffic has stopped...then issuing an SOS signal to evacuate the bridge...and doing everything in their power to avoid the crash while on fire.

We must deploy back to the SANDBOX!!!!!

If it were a cyberattack ( I am not saying it was ).
The crew would be unaware and do their best to minimize casualties

[Australian rePublic]

Apparently the police efforts to prevent vehicles from driving onto the bridge was successful, and there were apparently no private vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed.

Kudos to the Police.

How is that possible? The collapse happened so quickly that the police couldn't have even arrived in time, let alone put up barricades. We're talking, like seconds. Plus, I did see footage of cars falling into the river. Even if the police were stationed right there, the whole incident happened so quickly that it would have been physically impossible for police to block off the road between the time the ship struck the beidge and its collapse. There wasn't even any time for the people already on the bridge to turn around and go back. Even if the police were on the bridge, they wouldn't have had time to turn cars around. Short of manipulating the spacetime continuum, or speeding the cars upto 99% the speed of light, or testing the absolute limits of the laws of physics in such a similar vein, there's was nothing that could have been done to prevent people from falling into the river

[Ethel mermania]

Apparently the police efforts to prevent vehicles from driving onto the bridge was successful, and there were apparently no private vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed.

Kudos to the Police.

How is that possible? The collapse happened so quickly that the police couldn't have even arrived in time, let alone put up barricades. We're talking, like seconds. Plus, I did see footage of cars falling into the river. Even if the police were stationed right there, the whole incident happened so quickly that it would have been physically impossible for police to block off the road between the time the ship struck the beidge and its collapse. There wasn't even any time for the people already on the bridge to turn around and go back. Even if the police were on the bridge, they wouldn't have had time to turn cars around. Short of manipulating the spacetime continuum, or speeding the cars upto 99% the speed of light, or testing the absolute limits of the laws of physics in such a similar vein, there's was nothing that could have been done to prevent people from falling into the river

You know they train for this kind of event right?

The notice went to the cops prior to the bridge being hit. The traffic was stopped prior to the hit. The last car cleared the bridge with about 30 seconds to spare. There was no great invention here, the cops did exactly what they were trained to do

[The Archregimancy]

How is that possible? The collapse happened so quickly that the police couldn't have even arrived in time, let alone put up barricades. We're talking, like seconds. Plus, I did see footage of cars falling into the river. Even if the police were stationed right there, the whole incident happened so quickly that it would have been physically impossible for police to block off the road between the time the ship struck the beidge and its collapse. There wasn't even any time for the people already on the bridge to turn around and go back. Even if the police were on the bridge, they wouldn't have had time to turn cars around. Short of manipulating the spacetime continuum, or speeding the cars upto 99% the speed of light, or testing the absolute limits of the laws of physics in such a similar vein, there's was nothing that could have been done to prevent people from falling into the river

You know they train for this kind of event right?

The notice went to the cops prior to the bridge being hit. The traffic was stopped prior to the hit. The last car cleared the bridge with about 30 seconds to spare. There was no great invention here, the cops did exactly what they were trained to do

While this is true, I hope it doesn't take away from the achievement of the police here to note that there was a significant element of luck involved. The police acted quickly, effectively, and in line with their training; they absolutely deserve recognition. However, the fact that there were two police cars positioned so close to the bridge, and that they were able to react and close the bridge with less than 2 minutes warning, was a stroke of luck. It's my understanding that one of the police cars was stationed nearby because of the construction work taking place on the bridge, but I'm not sure that applies to both of them.

[Ethel mermania]

You know they train for this kind of event right?

The notice went to the cops prior to the bridge being hit. The traffic was stopped prior to the hit. The last car cleared the bridge with about 30 seconds to spare. There was no great invention here, the cops did exactly what they were trained to do

While this is true, I hope it doesn't take away from the achievement of the police here to note that there was a significant element of luck involved. The police acted quickly, effectively, and in line with their training; they absolutely deserve recognition. However, the fact that there were two police cars positioned so close to the bridge, and that they were able to react and close the bridge with less than 2 minutes warning, was a stroke of luck. It's my understanding that one of the police cars was stationed nearby because of the construction work taking place on the bridge, but I'm not sure that applies to both of them.

Oh no, i take nothing away from PD. I agree they are hero's and as the old saying goes Luck smiles on those who are prepared.

A cop with a road construction crew is usual process, and speaking for NY/NJ there are always cops on every major bridge.


Edit: Piss poor English

[Jerzylvania]

Indeed. I'd bet even John Augustus Roebling never considered whether the Brooklyn Bridge would withstand terrorist attacks.

The world has changed all around it...

..and that's one hell of an erection too!

[Ifreann]

Moving the port of a Baltimore is totally moronic solution.

Creating small islands however is not.

I would think you'd need a rather large island to be sure that a floating skyscraper would run aground without hitting the bridge.

[The Two Jerseys]

You know they train for this kind of event right?

The notice went to the cops prior to the bridge being hit. The traffic was stopped prior to the hit. The last car cleared the bridge with about 30 seconds to spare. There was no great invention here, the cops did exactly what they were trained to do

While this is true, I hope it doesn't take away from the achievement of the police here to note that there was a significant element of luck involved. The police acted quickly, effectively, and in line with their training; they absolutely deserve recognition. However, the fact that there were two police cars positioned so close to the bridge, and that they were able to react and close the bridge with less than 2 minutes warning, was a stroke of luck. It's my understanding that one of the police cars was stationed nearby because of the construction work taking place on the bridge, but I'm not sure that applies to both of them.

MDTA also has their own police force, those guys do nothing but patrol the bridge and tunnels so they're always nearby.

[San Lumen]

While this is true, I hope it doesn't take away from the achievement of the police here to note that there was a significant element of luck involved. The police acted quickly, effectively, and in line with their training; they absolutely deserve recognition. However, the fact that there were two police cars positioned so close to the bridge, and that they were able to react and close the bridge with less than 2 minutes warning, was a stroke of luck. It's my understanding that one of the police cars was stationed nearby because of the construction work taking place on the bridge, but I'm not sure that applies to both of them.

MDTA also has their own police force, those guys do nothing but patrol the bridge and tunnels so they're always nearby.

You learn something everyday,

The more you know. *plays music

[Turenia]

Apparently the police efforts to prevent vehicles from driving onto the bridge was successful, and there were apparently no private vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed.

Kudos to the Police.

How is that possible? The collapse happened so quickly that the police couldn't have even arrived in time, let alone put up barricades. We're talking, like seconds. Plus, I did see footage of cars falling into the river. Even if the police were stationed right there, the whole incident happened so quickly that it would have been physically impossible for police to block off the road between the time the ship struck the beidge and its collapse. There wasn't even any time for the people already on the bridge to turn around and go back. Even if the police were on the bridge, they wouldn't have had time to turn cars around. Short of manipulating the spacetime continuum, or speeding the cars upto 99% the speed of light, or testing the absolute limits of the laws of physics in such a similar vein, there's was nothing that could have been done to prevent people from falling into the river

I don't know what to tell you, besides the fact that officers were stationed nearby. Any vehicles you saw falling into the river must've been highway service vehicles.

[Kerwa]

Creating small islands however is not.

I would think you'd need a rather large island to be sure that a floating skyscraper would run aground without hitting the bridge.

About 0.4 Ha. It’s really more to with the channel profile. And in any event, it isn’t Hollywood where the ship will slide inland in slow motion for hundreds of yards.