Maryland: Ship hits Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse

[TBoneTX 43,489]

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Holds Emergency Press Conference To Announce He Is Taking 3 More Months Maternity Leave

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the morning after a tragic cargo ship accident and bridge collapse in Baltimore, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called an emergency press conference to announce he is taking three more months of maternity leave.

"It has come to my attention that the twin babies I purchased at the baby store require more undivided attention," said Buttigieg.  [...]

 

https://babylonbee.com/news/pete-buttigieg-holds-emergency-press-conference-to-announce-he-is-taking-3-more-months-maternity-leave

[TBoneTX 43,489]

In Bold Speech, Biden Calls On Ships To Stop Crashing Into Bridges

U.S. — After a cargo ship collided with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore causing the structure to collapse, President Biden gave a fiery speech in which he unequivocally called on ships everywhere to stop crashing into bridges.

"I mean it, folks! It's gotta stop!" said Biden to a small group of adoring fans in the press.  [...]

https://babylonbee.com/news/in-bold-speech-biden-calls-on-ships-to-stop-crashing-into-bridges

[Boiler 43,799]

3 hours ago, millefleur said:

Is this because it's too cost prohibitive to build more structurally resistant bridges? 

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

 

Some years back in the days of my youth there was a major disaster on the Underground in London, so as is often the case they spent a ton load of money on improvements, it was demanded. Well these had to be paid for and the fares obviously increased. 

 

Were there potential other issues that should have been a higher priority but were sidetracked obviously yes.

 

Will a lot of money be thrown at this project yes but as it goes you can only spend it once so other bridges that need attention will be pushed back.

 

Obviously it is not just transportation.

[Dashinka 23,402]

5 hours ago, millefleur said:

Is this because it's too cost prohibitive to build more structurally resistant bridges? 

That is always a major factor when it comes to infrastructure spending, but there are others such as technology at the time, ability to please all stakeholders of the project, etc.

 

 

[Dashinka 23,402]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

 

Some years back in the days of my youth there was a major disaster on the Underground in London, so as is often the case they spent a ton load of money on improvements, it was demanded. Well these had to be paid for and the fares obviously increased. 

 

Were there potential other issues that should have been a higher priority but were sidetracked obviously yes.

 

Will a lot of money be thrown at this project yes but as it goes you can only spend it once so other bridges that need attention will be pushed back.

 

Obviously it is not just transportation.

We saw something similar several years ago when a Yugo was blown off the Mackinac Bridge.  There were studies to change the railing system to something like a Jersey barrier to reduce road level wind.  In the end, the engineers won out as this bridge was designed and built after the lessons learned from the first Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge to allow the span to be more of a wing in the wind by using tubular open side rails and inside lanes of steel mesh.  What was done though was to change what wind conditions would lead to a temporary closure of the bridge.

[Boiler 43,799]

Just now, Dashinka said:

We saw something similar several years ago when a Yugo was blown off the Mackinac Bridge.  There were studies to change the railing system to something like a Jersey barrier to reduce road level wind.  In the end, the engineers won out as this bridge was designed and built after the lessons learned from the first Tacoma Narrows suspension bridge to allow the span to be more of a wing in the wind by using tubular open side rails and inside lanes of steel mesh.  What was done though was to change what wind conditions would lead to a temporary closure of the bridge.

 

Just thought of another example, so here it is CDOT who I have had dealings with. So if you are working for them the rule of thumb is to double your normal price and round up. Something I learned the hard way.

 

Anyway they had or have a rule that if there is so many accidents along a stretch of road they put barriers up. And this section of road near me triggered this.

 

Everyone told them those was a really stupid idea but they went ahead at great expense.

 

The issue here is wind driven snow and the barriers acted as a snow fence dumping snow on the road, the plows were running 24/7 but could not keep up. Next summer they were removed.

[Dashinka 23,402]

1 minute ago, Boiler said:

 

Just thought of another example, so here it is CDOT who I have had dealings with. So if you are working for them the rule of thumb is to double your normal price and round up. Something I learned the hard way.

 

Anyway they had or have a rule that if there is so many accidents along a stretch of road they put barriers up. And this section of road near me triggered this.

 

Everyone told them those was a really stupid idea but they went ahead at great expense.

 

The issue here is wind driven snow and the barriers acted as a snow fence dumping snow on the road, the plows were running 24/7 but could not keep up. Next summer they were removed.

Brings back memories of Reagan.  “I’m from the government and I’m here to help”.

[Pooky 3,367]

16 hours ago, millefleur said:

Is this because it's too cost prohibitive to build more structurally resistant bridges? 

Remember, the World Trade Center was build to withstand a Boeing 707 that got lost in fog approaching a NY airport, not a Boeing 767 doing 500mph.

 

Similarly, back in 1977, the engineers probably didn’t take into account a 100,000 ton container ship hitting a bridge pier at 7 knots, as they didn’t make them that big back then.

 

Money would certainly be a constraint in voluntarily designing a bridge without a large element of structural contingency. Design aesthetics would be another factor. Most structures are, at least in part, a compromise between cost, appearance and resilience.

[TBoneTX 43,489]

4 hours ago, Pooky said:

Most structures are, at least in part, a compromise between cost, appearance and resilience.

If I ever seek to get a house built, it's going to have a doubly thick foundation and structure that can withstand a strong Category 5 hurricane.

[Boiler 43,799]

I was very confused when I came to the US, houses are built here the same way sheds are built in the UK.

 

What do you expect?

[TBoneTX 43,489]

8 hours ago, Boiler said:

I was very confused when I came to the US, houses are built here the same way sheds are built in the UK.

 

What do you expect?

Welcome to the Colonies, si man.

[Boiler 43,799]

As this is an Immigration Forum sounds like the Employer can expect a visit from ICE.

 

The men worked for an independent, Maryland-based contracting company called Brawner Builders. All were of Latin American origin and from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras or Mexico.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68673146

[Boiler 43,799]

 

This is quite good at showing the extent of Liability Insurance, the damage to the ship does not look that bad.

 

He does get some of the terminology mixed up.

 

The big thing is the extent of Insurance coverage is not related to the Owners liability, which I assume in this case will be significantly less.

 

He also mentions losses where it seems highly unlikely there could be a claim

 

He mentioned he will have a Maritime Lawyer on.

[Dashinka 23,402]

5 hours ago, Boiler said:

 

This is quite good at showing the extent of Liability Insurance, the damage to the ship does not look that bad.

 

He does get some of the terminology mixed up.

 

The big thing is the extent of Insurance coverage is not related to the Owners liability, which I assume in this case will be significantly less.

 

He also mentions losses where it seems highly unlikely there could be a claim

 

He mentioned he will have a Maritime Lawyer on.

We all know who will pay.

[yuna628 9,547]

The company has already filed paperwork to attempt to get out of paying for very much. I think we really need to overhaul our maritime laws. We managed to open a small channel today but it's not very deep. At least it was enough a few things were tugged through it.