In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore experienced a catastrophic collapse after a collision with a large container ship. The incident, captured on video, shows the moment the bridge succumbed, plunging vehicles and individuals into the river below as the Dali, a colossal 948-foot cargo vessel, struck one of its pillars. This article delves into the current state of the bridge and explores how such a disaster could unfold.
An ongoing search and rescue operation is in progress in the Patapsco River beneath the bridge, with the National Transportation Safety Board spearheading an investigation into the cause of the collapse.
The bridge’s most recent federal inspection awarded it a score of six out of nine, indicating a “fair” condition, a status it has maintained since 2008, as reported by CBS Baltimore. Despite passing an inspection in May 2022, concerns were raised regarding the condition of one of its reinforced concrete columns, which saw its health index rating decrease from 77.8 to 65.9.
Ben Schafer, a professor of civil and systems engineering at Johns Hopkins University, commented to CBS News that the majority of U.S. bridges are categorized as “fair,” a classification that is less than ideal. He pointed out, however, that the bridge’s collapse was likely due to the impact with the massive ship rather than the bridge’s condition itself. Schafer explained that most bridges, whether suspension or arched, rely on at least two supports for the sections that span water. The Dali’s considerable size and mass created a force that the bridge’s structure could not withstand, leading to the unfortunate collapse.
Schafer also referenced the Quebec Bridge disaster of the late 1800s, noting that while it shared similarities with the Key Bridge, the latter’s design was modern and deemed sufficient at the time of its construction in the 1970s. He suggested that the focus should perhaps be on managing shipping traffic and the size of container ships, which have grown significantly since the bridge was built, to mitigate the risk of such accidents.
Robert Sumwalt, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, offered insights into the accident, noting that the ship’s fluctuating lights indicated a possible electrical power failure, which was later confirmed by authorities. Additionally, the presence of black smoke suggested the crew’s attempt to increase the ship’s steering capability by boosting the propeller’s RPMs.
All crew members aboard the Dali were accounted for, with no reported injuries. The ship’s audio recording device, capturing conversations and data such as the rudder’s angle, is expected to provide valuable information for the investigation.
The Key Bridge, spanning 1.6 miles and serving approximately 31,000 daily users, is one of only three crossings over the Patapsco River. The collapse has significantly limited access across the river. At the time of the accident, a construction crew was working on the bridge, with two workers rescued from the water, though six remain unaccounted for, according to Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of ongoing infrastructure evaluation and the need for adaptive measures in the face of evolving maritime challenges.