Bridges are a huge piece of our high value national infrastructure. Port cities can be crippled if they are taken out.
I sure hope drunk, and not intentional.
I know almost nothing about shipping or the channels there. But looking at the video, and a map, there is a good chance Baltimore harbor isn’t gonna be moving any freight for awhile.
My first concern was terrorists.
There are isolated railroad tunnels within a short distance of our family farm. Pap used to tell of troops guarding those tunnels during WWII. The Horseshoe Curve was also guarded.
It would be quite easy to seriously hurt us, with high reward, low risk attacks to key infrastructure.
American pilot? WTF does that mean? Does he have roots here before it was the USA? 100 years? 50? Or is he a Farsi speaker working a visa?
Just got a notification the ship lost power.
The concern for what could happen remains
Most large merchant ships like that are foreign. A Pilot is someone who typically has an unlimited tonnage license and has a extensive experience in and knowledge of their port. They'll be a US citizen. Pilotage for a foreign vessel of that size is compulsory when operating in port. At some point before entering the port or getting underway from the port, the pilot takes control.
It does look like a power irregularity played a role in this.
I can't believe that bridge had an inadequate fendering system.
