Скачать или смотреть Expert says ship's power loss happened at 'the worst time possible'

(26 Mar 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bourne, Massachusetts - 26 March 2024
1. Various inside ship simulator
2.SOUNDBITE (English) Capt. Michael Burns, Jr., Maritime Center for Responsible Energy:
"It appeared that the vessel did lose power prior to striking the bridge. And, you know, certainly there's, that -  That loss of power happened at probably the worst time possible."
3. Close of navigation screen inside simulator
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Capt. Michael Burns, Jr., Maritime Center for Responsible Energy:
"A loss of power is, is one of the worst things that can happen, particularly at that moment where the vessel is already in restricted waters. It could mean the loss of the main propulsion ,or the ability to move in the water, it could mean the loss of steering, communications, the loss of bridge equipment, which is providing you with your position and heading information. So there really is few things that are scarier than a loss of power in restricted waters."
++BLACK FRAMES++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Capt. Michael Burns, Jr., Maritime Center for Responsible Energy:
"Bringing a vessel in and out of port is one of the most technically challenging and demanding things that we do. Happens all the time, but it requires our highest level of vigilance. So while there is that high level of alertness, not necessarily stressful until an emergency occurs. And then, of course, what appeared to have happened today would be, in my mind, quite stressful."
++BLACK FRAMES++
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Capt. Michael Burns, Jr., Maritime Center for Responsible Energy:
"If a ship loses propulsion and steering, then it's really at the mercy of the wind and the current. And will go where they kind of send it. So without that, we're limited in what we can do. Ships do have emergency power, emergency generators that are designed to come on automatically in the event of a power loss. But not every single system on board is served by those generators. So things like emergency communications and lighting and firefighting capabilities would be the type of thing that would be on that emergency generator. But it wouldn't have the capacity or the ability to restore main propulsion, for example."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Authorities are piecing together what led to the bridge collapse in Baltimore.

But so far, we know that Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said a large cargo ship lost power and issued a mayday call moments before it struck the bridge early Tuesday, though it was still moving toward the span at a rapid speed.

Capt. Michael Burns, Jr., of the Maritime Center for Responsible Energy in Bourne, Massachusetts, said based on what he saw on video, "It appeared that the vessel did lose power prior to striking the bridge. And, you know, certainly there's, that -  That loss of power happened at probably the worst time possible."

The Francis Scott Key Bridge broke apart and tumbled into the Patapsco River.

Two people were rescued, but officials say six others are presumed dead.

Ship traffic has been suspended at the Port of Baltimore, which handles tens of billions of dollars in cargo each year. 

AP Video shot by Rodrique Ngowi

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