A 100,000 tonne 300m container ship loses power exiting the port and ploughs into terra firma at about 15 kmh. Unfortunately said terra firma was ably supporting the main bridge out of Baltimore. Tragic results have ensued with the total collapse of the bridge and an unknown loss of life in the 5 degree C waters.
Typically a large ship might have dual fuels for the main diesel where a low particulate cleaner fuel is used in the harbour environs to keep local greenies happy and a cheaper dirtier low grade heavy fuel oil for use out in the open sea.
There is a question that must be asked.
Was the ship swapping from the finer harbour free-flowing fuel to the open sea tar-like HFO that requires serious pre-heating and subsequently failed with total loss of power, steerage and control at the attempted changeover?
Normal ops would be pre-bridge still in the harbour but winding up the ship for the open sea, ready to ditch the two local pilots on the seaward side of the bridge.
Large clouds of black smoke from the stack (observed by witnesses) as the ship swapped fuels in the dead of night might not overly worry any local greenies wrapped up in their beds on a cold morning.
A question that I hope will be answered.
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