Why No Tugs MV Dali/Key Bridge Baltimore
TLDRIn the video, Tim shares his insights on the incident involving the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the motor vessel Dolly in Baltimore. He explains the common practice of using tugs in some ports, using the Port of New Haven as an example, and discusses why tugs might not be used in all situations, such as in the Port of Baltimore. Tim emphasizes that while it's a tragic event, the absence of tugs at the time of the incident may not have significantly altered the outcome. He also touches on the potential for future regulations mandating tugs for ships passing through bridges, highlighting the additional costs that could be passed onto consumers.
Takeaways
- 🗣️ The speaker, Tim, shares his opinions on the incident in Baltimore involving the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the motor vessel Dolly.
- 🚢 Tim recommends Dr. S's channel for in-depth coverage of the event in the shipping industry.
- 🛳️ Tugs are not always used in every port due to various reasons, including the specific conditions and practices of each port.
- 🏗️ The Port of New Haven, Connecticut, is given as an example where tugs are commonly used for ship docking due to limited water depth and channel width.
- 📈 The speaker explains that the use of tugs is determined by factors such as water depth, channel size, and the need for maneuverability.
- 🚧 In Baltimore, tugs were not used continuously as the channel allows for straightforward navigation and tugs may have other duties.
- 🎥 The video discusses the limitations of tugs in preventing accidents, even if they were present during the incident.
- 🛠️ Regulations in the maritime industry are sometimes put in place for political reasons rather than practicality, which can lead to increased costs for consumers.
- 💡 The speaker suggests that future regulations might mandate the use of tugs with ships passing through bridges, despite the potential increase in costs.
- 🙏 Tim expresses sympathy for the families affected by the incident and defends the crew and pilot against undue blame.
- 👋 The speaker encourages viewers to support his content and check out Dr. S's channel for more maritime-related topics.
Q & A
What is Tim's opinion on the use of tugs in the Port of Baltimore incident?
-Tim believes that the use of tugs in the incident might not have significantly changed the outcome. He explains that once a ship is under its own power and moving, even a tug wouldn't have the same pushing power as when the ship is at a standstill at the dock.
What happened in Baltimore that people were asking for Tim's opinion on?
-An incident occurred in Baltimore where the motor vessel Dolly collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge. People were interested in Tim's thoughts on why there weren't tugs present to prevent or mitigate the situation.
Why did Tim hesitate to comment on the Baltimore incident initially?
-Tim was initially hesitant to comment because most aspects of the incident were outside the scope of his knowledge and expertise. He preferred to provide informed opinions based on his experience and understanding.
What is the significance of the Port of New Haven in Tim's explanation?
-The Port of New Haven is significant because it's where Tim worked for 10 years and has experience with ship docking. He uses it as an example to explain the common practice of using tugs on either side of a ship in a narrow channel, which is different from the situation in Baltimore.
How does the Port of Baltimore differ from the Port of New Haven in terms of tug usage?
-In the Port of Baltimore, it is standard for tugs to release a ship once it is lined up on the straightway and the ship is under its own power. This is different from the Port of New Haven, where tugs remain alongside the ship throughout its journey in the narrow channel.
What was the role of the two tugs that were with the Dolly?
-The two tugs were alongside the Dolly as it came out and turned around. Once the ship was lined up on the straightway, the tugs were released, which is a common practice and not an indication of negligence or premature release.
What is Tim's perspective on the potential future regulation of tugs accompanying ships through bridges?
-Tim suggests that it wouldn't surprise him if regulations in the future mandated tugs to be with ships inbound and outbound going through bridges. However, he also notes that this would add more costs, which would eventually be passed down to consumers.
How does Tim feel about the regulations in the maritime world?
-Tim acknowledges that while some regulations are necessary and beneficial, there are others that seem to be put in place more to make politicians or lawmakers feel good rather than being effective in preventing accidents. He cites the example of radar endorsements, which he believes wouldn't have changed the outcome of the train accident he mentioned.
What does Tim suggest about the role of the pilot and crew in the Baltimore incident?
-Tim suggests that blaming the pilot and crew for the incident is unfair, comparing it to blaming the flight crew of a plane if a wing falls off. He believes that, based on what he has seen, they may not have had much to do with the incident.
Where can viewers find more information about the incident in Baltimore and other maritime topics?
-Tim recommends viewers to check out Dr. S's channel, 'What's going on in Shipping', for in-depth coverage of the incident and other maritime-related topics.
How can viewers support Tim's content?
-Viewers can support Tim's content by subscribing to his channel, hitting the bell for notifications, leaving a comment, sharing the video on social media, and using the super thanks button or becoming a monthly or yearly subscriber on Patreon.
Outlines
🚢 Introduction and Context of the Baltimore Incident
The speaker, Tim, introduces himself and sets the stage for a discussion on the incident involving the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the motor vessel Dolly in Baltimore. He expresses initial hesitation to comment due to the complexity of the issue, but eventually shares his insights on why tugs were not used in the situation. Tim recommends a channel called 'Dr s's Channel at what's going on in shipping' for more in-depth coverage. He also shares his background in the Port of New Haven, Connecticut, to establish credibility and provide context for his opinions on the use of tugs in different ports.
🌉 Explanation of Tug Usage and the Baltimore Incident
Tim explains the standard practice of using tugs to assist ships in the Port of New Haven due to the narrow and shallow waters. He contrasts this with the situation in Baltimore, where the channel is wider and deeper, allowing ships to navigate under their own power once properly aligned. He describes the typical release of tugs once a ship is on the straight path, emphasizing that this is a common practice and not a sign of negligence. Tim also discusses the limitations of tugs in preventing accidents, using the example of a 5500 horse tractor tug's limited ability to stop a 100,000-ton ship moving at 7-8 knots. He acknowledges the ongoing investigation and speculates on potential future regulations mandating tugs for ships passing through bridges.
🙏 Closing Thoughts and Support for Affected Parties
In the closing paragraph, Tim reiterates that his views are personal opinions and thanks the audience for their attention. He encourages viewers to check out Dr s's channel for comprehensive maritime coverage. Tim also addresses the potential emotional and financial impact of the incident on families and the shipping industry, emphasizing that increased regulations often result in higher costs for consumers. He extends his sympathies to the families of those who lost loved ones and to the crew and pilot of the ship, drawing a parallel to the unfounded blame often placed on flight crews in catastrophic incidents. Tim concludes by inviting viewers to support his content through various platforms and wishing everyone safety.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Baltimore
💡Francis Scott Key Bridge
💡Motor Vessel Dolly
💡Tugs
💡Port of New Haven
💡Channel
💡Maritime Regulations
💡Radar Endorsement
💡Ship Navigation
💡Cost and Efficiency
💡Investigation
Highlights
Tim provides his opinion on the Francis Scott Key bridge incident in Baltimore involving the motor vessel Dolly.
Tim recommends Dr. S's channel for in-depth coverage of the shipping industry and the incident.
The question of why tugs were not used to push the motor vessel Dolly out of the way is addressed by Tim.
Tim shares his experience working at the Port of New Haven, Connecticut, and the use of tugs there.
The Port of New Haven uses tugs on either side of a ship due to the narrow and shallow channel.
In Baltimore, tugs were not used to follow the Dolly into open water or to follow ships inbound, unlike some other ports.
The Port of Baltimore's channel setup is different and does not necessitate the continuous use of tugs.
Tugs were used initially to help the Dolly get lined up in the channel, which is a standard practice.
Even if tugs were present during the bridge collision, their ability to prevent the accident would be limited.
Tim suggests that regulations in the maritime industry are sometimes put in place to make politicians feel good rather than being practical.
Tim anticipates that future regulations may mandate the use of tugs with ships passing through bridges, adding cost to shipping.
Tim expresses sympathy for the families of those affected by the incident and for the ship's crew and pilot.
Tim compares the blame on the ship's pilot to blaming a flight crew if a plane's wing fell off.
The video encourages viewers to check out Dr. S's channel for more maritime-related topics.
Tim invites viewers to support the channel through various means such as YouTube and Patreon.
The video concludes with Tim wishing viewers well and promising to see them in future content.