Questions Regarding Recent Ship Incidents Worldwide

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, USA, has raised questions about the condition of this bridge and bridges in the United States in general. Surveillance footage showed the container ship "Dali" colliding with the bridge in Baltimore, causing several arches of the bridge to collapse into the river. The bridge, which was inaugurated in 1977, has reignited scrutiny not only of its structure but also of the condition of bridges across the United States, according to The Guardian. It remains unclear whether the bridge's collapse resulted from any structural flaws. Officials stated that the ship's crew had informed authorities prior to the incident about a technical problem that caused the vessel to "temporarily lose propulsion," according to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and this reporting allowed for a portion of traffic on the bridge to be halted, saving lives. Moore asserted that the bridge "fully complies with engineering standards," while some experts noted that the bridge, completed in 1977, was designed before the era of massive container ships. Andrew Barr, a civil and structural engineering expert at the University of Sheffield, observed that "the video does not show any obvious structural defects in the bridge, but it was not designed to withstand a direct impact from a large ship." Barr added that the Francis Scott Key Bridge does not appear to have additional protective infrastructure to shield it from ship strikes, which have become more dangerous with changes in the size and design of cargo ships over the years. Just in the past decade, the average capacity of container ships has increased by about 50%, according to Barr. CNN pointed out that the collapse of three bridges within three months this year, in the United States, China, and Argentina, raises concerns. The incident in China occurred in late February when a cargo ship collided with the Lichensha Bridge in southern Guangzhou, splitting the bridge in two. Prior to that, a large cargo ship collided with the Zarate-Brazo Largo Bridge crossing the Paraná River in Argentina, causing significant damage to the ship. All these events took place within the first three months of this year and involved large commercial vessels. These incidents have highlighted "the urgent need to enhance or protect older bridges to accommodate larger modern ships," according to CNN. Sal Mercogliano, a former commercial mariner and maritime expert, remarked, "We must remember that this bridge was built over 50 years ago, and the ships (at that time) were much smaller than Dali." He noted that "Dali" is not even one of the largest container ships, as there are much larger operational vessels. Although these incidents may seem similar, there may be different influencing factors, according to Bassem Andrawes, a professor of structural engineering at the University of Illinois. Andrawes indicates that there are various causes for each of these cases, "but there is now greater awareness of the significant possibility that a ship might strike a part of the bridge, whether it be a bridge pillar or the superstructure." He added that additional structures, such as fenders, could be added to bridges, underwater and out of sight, to deter ships that drift off course. Many ports and waterways use structures anchored to the seabed or riverbed, which can extend above the water. They are often used as docking points for ships and can also protect bridges from collision accidents. Authorities in Baltimore announced Tuesday evening the suspension of search operations for six individuals who went missing after the bridge collapse, noting that the missing persons are now considered deceased. The bridge, consisting of four lanes, extends 2.6 kilometers southwest of Baltimore, a major industrial and coastal city in Maryland, approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Washington, D.C. It serves as a crucial transport and economic hub between the north and south of the U.S. East Coast. It is named after Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the U.S. national anthem. Maritime navigation in the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest ports in the United States, has been suspended "until further notice," according to authorities.