Re: Full video of ship hitting and destroying the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore

On 2024-03-29 12:50, Don Y wrote:

That.  Esp when it comes to commercial vessels, the "rules of the road"
(river?) implicitly acknowledge this in that the stand on vessel is almost
always the one that is least able to make quick changes to its course or
progress.

Why was the operation done without tow boats, was that customary?
Where I live, we barely avoided a sea oil catastrophe about a month ago. A sea tanker ship (Front Siena) was approaching harbour without requesting a pilot, not contacting, and not responding to radio. And on a collision course to the rocks.
The pilot made haste, boarded the ship unaided and in the dark, all deck lights off. When he reached the bridge, there were 7 people there just chatting. He was offered a coffee; instead he started roaring orders. Reverse engines top speed, two tow boats pushing, anchor dropped. Stopped one mile from the rocks (more or less, from memory).
Ship fined.
Spanish link with AIS route map
<https://www.naucher.com/la-penosa-historia-del-petrolero-front-siena-y-su-tripulacion-negligente/>
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Cheers, Carlos.