Bridge Collapses in Baltimore

[fsanford]

Ships are so large now, in Long Beach they had to rebuild the bridges so these massive ships can pass under.

It takes these big vessels such a long time to maneuver.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Why shouldn't we want to fund infrastructure improvements?

Ever notice that they keep getting funded and always need improvement?

 

[fsanford]

I would imagine Savannah will try to capture as much of this sudden demand as they can handle.

The port recently started work on tearing up the old Roll-on/Roll-off lots to convert the portion of the port nearest the bridge into container traffic.

Brunswick, just south of Savannah, is greatly expanding their RoRo capacity so pretty much all of that is heading there now while Savannah focuses on containers.

They're currently expanding I-16 to help handle the planned growth, but I would imagine a lot of it will be handled via rail, too.

It'll be interesting to watch play out.

I think they will shift to Norfolk mostly. To minimize added domestic transport costs.

Savannah has been struggling with added capacity as importers have tried to reduce west coast capacity
Also this is slower time of year with volumes, June starts Halloween and the Christmas soon after.
Baltimore is a smaller port so others should be able to handle.

Force Majuer will be declared and importers will be hit with extra transportation costs.

 

[isufbcurt]

You guys want to make your butt pucker up - then drive a big racecar hauler over the steel Decatur Bridge by Onawa, IA. It's narrow (barely room for 2 lanes of traffic), has steel, not concrete for the surface and sounds like you are going to fall through at any minute.

I took it once and will never do it again, I'd rather go miles out of the way than deal with that again.

 

[jcf817]

Ever notice that they keep getting funded and always need improvement?

Ever notice that we're one of the largest countries in the world?

 

[Rabbuk]

Ever notice that we're one of the largest countries in the world?

Friendly advice you're not dealing with a rational person.

 

[wxman1]

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

For those of you who think this is a nightmare scenario you might want to contact your state legislator. Iowa LEADS THE NATION in number of structurally deficient bridges.

https://artbabridgereport.org/state/profile/IA

https://www.kcrg.com/2023/09/11/report-iowa-has-most-structurally-deficient-bridges-us/

https://www.wqad.com/article/traffi...port/526-43a57130-e2bd-4d97-a594-cc3ac9751f47

They're working on them all over the place. It's being addressed thankfully.

 

[JayV]

Right, and those docks look like they're only set up for roll-on/roll-off. Actual container ships will have to go to another port entirely.

It's also a big cruise ship port. Makes me wonder what ships are trapped in the harbor until further notice.

Ship & Container Tracking - VesselFinder

VesselFinder is a FREE AIS vessel tracking web site. VesselFinder displays real time ship positions and marine traffic detected by global AIS network.

www.vesselfinder.com

Edit: I'm not sure I know which ones are cruise ships. Maybe someone else recognizes a name?

 

[cowgirl836]

‘We were not happy;’ Lansing residents react to Blackhawk Bridge closure

The bridge is expected to be closed for 2 months while the Iowa Department of Transportation addresses structural concerns.

www.kcrg.com

Just read that in the news here too.

 

[MugNight]

I think they will shift to Norfolk mostly. To minimize added domestic transport costs.

Savannah has been struggling with added capacity as importers have tried to reduce west coast capacity
Also this is slower time of year with volumes, June starts Halloween and the Christmas soon after.
Baltimore is a smaller port so others should be able to handle.

Force Majuer will be declared and importers will be hit with extra transportation costs.

Savannah also has a massive Hyundai and EV battery facility being built a few counties over that will bring +8,000 plus jobs at the factory plus hundreds of others at local suppliers. I’m fascinated to see how that will impact port traffic and local infrastructure in the years to come.

Another thing to keep an eye on is container availability. That was a major issue during COVID.

 

[chuckd4735]

Deficient, but not relevant (unless you are trying to scare up some funding)

We should. But that bridge in the middle of no where that 30 vehicles drive over each day should not be high on the priority list. Most of these roads should probably just be shut down, but the Farm Bureau gets in the way of that happening.

 

[fsanford]

Just read that in the news here too.

‘We were not happy;’ Lansing residents react to Blackhawk Bridge closure

The bridge is expected to be closed for 2 months while the Iowa Department of Transportation addresses structural concerns.

www.kcrg.com

That bridge has been hit by numerous barges. I honestly am amazed it has stood this long.

I believe the finally added bumper pylons to try and deflect blows but it was well after numerous collisions

The bend in the channel challenges the best barge captains

 

[singsing]

Who's driving and maintaining these things? I can't understand how these ships keep running into one another or something else. We have military ships with the best radar systems in the world plowing into container ships or subs slamming into the sea floor. World's gone moron. Figure another ten years and people will only know how to stare into their phones, eat, and take a crap.

 

[CloneinWDSM]

Ever notice that they keep getting funded and always need improvement?

I’ve stared at this comment for like 2 minutes. This may be the dumbest take I’ve seen and there’s already been a ton about this being DEI, A terrorist attack, somehow relates to the border, etc.

 

[alarson]

Who's driving and maintaining these things? I can't understand how these ships keep running into one another or something else. We have military ships with the best radar systems in the world plowing into container ships or subs slamming into the sea floor. World's gone moron. Figure another ten years and people will only know how to stare into their phones, eat, and take a crap.

In this case it looks like the power failed on the ship shortly before it hit. It's possible that led to a loss of control of the ship and by the time power came back on it was too late

 

[cowgirl836]

I’ve stared at this comment for like 2 minutes. This may be the dumbest take I’ve seen and there’s already been a ton about this being DEI, A terrorist attack, somehow relates to the border, etc.

Bridge goes woke, bridge gets broke

 

[simply1]

 

[fsanford]

That is amazing, and great news. Clearly they were prepared to deal with an event like thus.

That said they need to use pilot boats to take these ships beyond any bridges.

That thing was turned into a massive battering ram.

 

[singsing]

In this case it looks like the power failed on the ship shortly before it hit. It's possible that led to a loss of control of the ship and by the time power came back on it was too late

Like I said..who's maintaining these things? No back up systems?