On Wednesday, June 5th, a large cargo ship lost control in a port in South Carolina, nearly speeding off at full throttle, forcing the closure of one of the busiest bridges in the state.
The commander of the United States Coast Guard Charleston division, Randy Preston, stated that harbor pilots successfully guided the nearly 1000-foot (300-meter) long cargo ship safely through the Ravenel Bridge at a speed of approximately 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour), anchoring a few miles offshore. Currently, the Coast Guard is conducting an investigation. Prior to the ship’s arrival, authorities cleared traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians from the eight-lane bridge, as it was closed for 10 minutes while the Michigan 7 cargo ship passed through.
Mr. Preston mentioned that the only damage incurred was caused by the wake of the massive cargo ship, which pushed a small boat ashore, resulting in minor injuries to two individuals.
The ship is registered in Liberia and belongs to the Mediterranean Shipping Company. The company has not immediately responded to requests for comments via email. The vessel was en route from the port of Charleston to Georgia’s Savannah. “I do not want to speculate whether it could have turned into a disaster, but anytime a ship loses control of its propulsion, it’s a cause for concern,” Mr. Preston stated at a press conference.
On March 26th, an out-of-control cargo ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after losing power, causing the bridge to collapse and resulting in the deaths of six construction workers. Engineers noted that the design of the Ravenel Bridge is different and is able to withstand a similar impact. However, as a precaution, the decision was made to close the bridge once it was clear the cargo ship had lost control.
Charleston Police Chief Chito Walker mentioned that police provided transportation for people walking or biking on the bridge to quickly and safely evacuate. The bridge was cleared within minutes. “The communication from top to bottom in this situation was flawless,” Mr. Walker remarked. Mr. Preston mentioned that the crew regained control of the ship after leaving the bridge and anchored about 10 miles (16 kilometers) off the coast.
Approximately 100,000 vehicles pass through the Ravenel Suspension Bridge each day, which opened in 2005. The main span of the bridge stands 186 feet (57 meters) above the Cooper River, with tower heights reaching 575 feet (175 meters) above the water. Engineers claim that the bridge’s design can withstand wind gusts of up to 300 miles per hour (483 kilometers per hour), stronger than any recorded hurricane to date.