{"id":2207442,"date":"2024-03-27T13:16:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T17:16:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/six-questions-about-the-francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-answered\/"},"modified":"2024-03-27T13:22:29","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T17:22:29","slug":"six-questions-about-the-francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-answered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/six-questions-about-the-francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-answered\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers to key questions on Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsix-questions-about-the-francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-answered%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2207442&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Questions are \u2063being answered post \u200cthe Francis\u200c Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. A\u2064 Singaporean cargo ship bound for Sri Lanka\u2062 lost power, leading \u2064to a collision\u2063 with the \u200cbridge. Governor Wes \u200bMoore\u2063 declared\u2064 a state of emergency, and the ship&#8217;s company expressed condolences. The\u2062 bridge \u200dwas\u2062 structurally sound, and the \u2062federal government\u200c will cover the cost of rebuilding.\u2064 After the collapse of the Francis \u2064Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, caused by a\u2062 Singaporean cargo ship \u2062losing power and colliding with the bridge, Governor Wes Moore declared\u2062 a state of\u200c emergency. The ship&#8217;s \u2063company offered condolences, and despite the bridge being structurally sound, \u2062the federal government\u2063 will fund \u2062its rebuilding.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Questions are beginning to be answered in the wake of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/infrastructure\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Francis Scott Key Bridge<\/a> collapse in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maryland\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Baltimore<\/a> on Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<p>A Singaporean cargo ship en route to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sri-lanka\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Sri Lanka<\/a> lost power, resulting in a collision with a structural beam of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, or Key Bridge, in Baltimore at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are Maryland tough. We are Baltimore strong. In the face of danger, we hold out. In the face of heartbreak, we come together, and we come back stronger. That is what we\u2019ve always done. That\u2019s what we will continue to do,\u201d Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) said on <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovWesMoore\/status\/1772629294168117431?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>X<\/a>. He also said his administration was working with other government agencies on the crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mayor Brandon Scott announced a local state of emergency in response.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBaltimore, I am officially declaring a local state of emergency in response to the collapse of our Key Bridge. Our teams are mobilizing resources and working swiftly to address this crisis and ensure the safety and well-being of our community,\u201d Scott announced on <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MayorBMScott\/status\/1772619045218521362?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>X<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovWesMoore\/status\/1772999035109933411?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Flags<\/a> were lowered to half-mast in Maryland on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who was on the bridge at the time?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There were eight construction workers actively working on the bridge at the time of its collapse. They were working on fixing potholes in the pavement, not the bridge\u2019s structural integrity. Two of the eight were rescued in the early morning, with one refusing medical treatment and the other spending the night in the hospital.<\/p>\n<p>Tuesday night, search and rescue operations were suspended after officials determined that the water temperature and length the victims had been in the water would be too harsh to live through.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are going to suspend the active search and rescue efforts. Coast Guard\u2019s not going away, none of our partners are going away, but we\u2019re just going to transition to a different phase,\u201d Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said. The efforts will now shift to recovering bodies to find closure for the families.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It is not believed that there were any cars traveling on the bridge at the time. When the ship lost power, it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/police-arrest-suspect-in-dallas-zoo-monkey-napping\/\" title=\"Police Arrest Suspect In Dallas Zoo Monkey-Napping\">notified local authorities<\/a> it was en route to strike the bridge within minutes. Mayday calls were received on land, and local authorities were able to shut down traffic on the bridge before its collapse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have to say I\u2019m thankful for the folks who \u2014 once the warning came up and once the notification came up that there was a mayday \u2014 who, literally by being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives last night,\u201d Moore said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Which shipping company was behind the incident?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/investigations\/2024\/03\/26\/baltimore-bridge-collapse-ship-dali\/73105394007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>ship<\/a>, the <em>Dali<\/em>, was owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean but managed by Synergy Marine Group, which is also based in Singapore. It was carrying Maersk customers\u2019 cargo.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,\u201d Maersk said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/baltimore-bridge-collapse-synergy-marine-group-maersk-port-of-baltimore-cbs-news-explains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>statement<\/a> to CBS News.<\/p>\n<p>Moore said the ship was headed from Baltimore to Sri Lanka. All 24 people aboard the <em>Dali<\/em> survived the crash. It is unclear at this time what cargo the ship was carrying.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Dali<\/em> was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.eu\/article\/baltimore-bridge-crash-ship-involved-in-belgian-port-collision-years-earlier-reports-say\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>involved<\/a> in a collision in a Belgian port in 2016. The Dali hit a stone quay as it was leaving Antwerp, resulting in \u201chull damage impairing seaworthiness.\u201d The company has also been cited for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2024\/03\/26\/us\/ship-labor-baltimore-bridge-collapse.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>labor violations<\/a> for keeping crew on the boat for more months than contracted.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Was there a structural flaw to blame for the bridge\u2019s collapse?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There were no structural flaws in the bridge. Opened to traffic in 1977, the bridge was inspected most recently in May 2023 and \u201cfound to be in satisfactory condition with an overall rating of fair,\u201d according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wbaltv.com\/article\/baltimore-francis-scott-key-bridge-collapse-history\/60307223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>press aide<\/a> for U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The ship hit a pylon or pier, a critical component of a bridge\u2019s integrity. After the Sept. 11 attacks, Maryland debated installing pier guards but decided against it, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/liberal-chicago-mayors-move-to-the-right-on-crisis-issue-sets-off-fight-with-allies\/\" title=\"Chicago's liberal mayor sparks conflict with allies by shifting towards the right on a critical issue\">citing high costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is a unique circumstance. I do not know of a bridge that has been constructed to withstand a direct impact from a vessel of this size,\u201d Buttigieg said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The ship was traveling at a speed of 22 knots, or 25 miles per hour. The nearly 1,000-foot-long ship weighed 96,000 gross tons.\u00a0 <em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>After the ship issued the mayday call, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/upstate-new-york-officials-tell-nyc-mayor-to-stop-bussing-illegal-immigrants-to-their-regions\/\" title=\"NY Officials to NYC Mayor: Stop Bussing Illegal Immigrants Upstate.\">notifying local authorities<\/a> that the power was out and it was en route to strike the bridge, it only took about five <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/son-got-over-baltimore-bridge-144712389.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>minutes<\/a> for the ship to strike the bridge.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who will pay for the damages?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>President Joe Biden announced that the federal government will fully foot the bill to pay for a new bridge. The Key Bridge saw over 11 million passengers per year before its fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to work with our partners in Congress to make sure the state gets the support it needs. It\u2019s my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect the Congress to support my effort,\u201d Biden said. He has plans to visit Baltimore \u201cquickly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Similar bridge collapses have seen full federal government support.<\/p>\n<p>On Aug. 1, 2007, the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge, a major bridge in Minneapolis, collapsed during rush hour, resulting in 13 deaths. Two days later, the House unanimously voted 421-0 to spend $250 million to rebuild the bridge. The Senate unanimously passed the bill. Five days after the incident, on Aug. 6, the bill was signed into law by then-President George W. Bush.<\/p>\n<p>At this time, it is unclear when a vote for funding will take place. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/03\/26\/congress-maryland-bridge-funds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>said<\/a> he plans to fight \u201cfor any federal resources Baltimore needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Buttigieg made it clear during an interview on Fox on Wednesday morning that if someone is deemed responsible for the collapse, the government will pursue that, but funding the bridge\u2019s reconstruction won\u2019t wait. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s no question that if the investigation determines that any private party or parties are responsible, they will be held accountable,\u201d Buttigieg said. \u201cBut that can\u2019t be something that we\u2019re just waiting around for. We\u2019ve got to make sure that we work now, today to get this bridge back up and to get this port back open.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>How long will the bridge take to rebuild?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is currently unclear how long it will take to rebuild the bridge. Minnesota\u2019s bridge reopened a little over a year after it collapsed in September 2008. The Key Bridge is longer, however, at about 1.5 miles in length.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, a small portion of Interstate 95 collapsed in Philadelphia after a truck carrying gasoline lost control and became set on fire on an exit ramp. The affected portion of the freeway reopened two weeks later.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Will there be economic impacts from the Port of Baltimore closing?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There will likely be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/white-house\/biden-says-wants-federal-government-pay-rebuilding-baltimore-bridge-ca-rcna145138\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>economic<\/a> impacts from the bridge collapse, not just in the Baltimore area but nationally. The Port of Baltimore is one of the busiest ports in the country, seeing 850,000 vehicles annually.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The port is currently closed because there is bridge debris still in and above the water in the Patapsco River, preventing entry or exit into and out of the port.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to get it up and running again as soon as possible. \u2026 Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we\u2019re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers,\u201d Biden said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, the Port of Baltimore handled 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo, worth $80 billion. It also is a key importer for many large industries such as auto and sugar.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong>CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaryland\u2019s Port of Baltimore generates about 15,300 direct jobs, with nearly 140,000 jobs linked to port activities. It ranks first among the nation\u2019s ports for volume of autos and light trucks, roll on\/roll off heavy farm and construction machinery, imported sugar, and imported gypsum; ninth among major U.S. ports for foreign cargo handled; and ninth for total foreign cargo value,\u201d a <a href=\"https:\/\/mpa.maryland.gov\/Press%20Releases\/Press02232024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>statement<\/a> from Moore said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Ship traffic and operations planned to go through Baltimore will now likely be rerouted through other ports, including ports in Virginia,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pennsylvania<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Questions are emerging following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. A Singaporean cargo ship bound for Sri Lanka lost power, leading to a collision with a structural beam of the Key Bridge around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2207443,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/baltimore-ship-1024x591.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2207442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/wex-s3.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/baltimore-ship-1024x591.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2207442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2207442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2207442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2207443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2207442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2207442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2207442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}