On Wednesday, a South Carolina harbor experienced a worrying incident when a large cargo ship lost control of its engines and went almost full throttle. The situation was severe enough to prompt the closure of one of the busiest bridges in the state.
According to Randy Preston, the commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Charleston Section, harbor pilots successfully assisted a nearly 1,000-foot (300-meter) ship, traveling at nearly 20 mph (32 kmh), to safely navigate under the Ravenel Bridge and anchor several miles offshore. The Coast Guard is currently conducting an investigation into the incident.
Authorities cleared the eight-lane bridge of traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians before the arrival of the ship, Michigan 7. The bridge remained closed for 10 minutes as the ship steamed underneath, according to reports from the police.
According to Preston, the only harm that occurred was due to the wake of the colossal ship. It caused a small boat to run aground and resulted in minor injuries to two individuals.
According to reports, the vessel was en route to Savannah, Georgia, from Charleston’s port. The Mediterranean Shipping Company, which owns the ship and is registered in Liberia, has not yet responded to an email seeking comment.
During a news conference, Preston expressed his concern regarding vessels that cannot control their propulsion by stating, “I don’t want to speculate on it becoming a disaster, but any time a vessel can’t control its propulsion, it’s concerning.”
According to engineers, the Ravenel Bridge was constructed with a different design that could withstand a similar impact. However, as soon as it became apparent that the ship was uncontrollable, they opted to close down the bridge.
According to Charleston Police Chief Chito Walker, individuals who were walking or biking across the span were swiftly transported to safety by police officers who provided rides. As a result, the bridge was emptied within a matter of minutes.
Every day, approximately 100,000 vehicles traverse the cable-stayed Ravenel Bridge, which was inaugurated in 2005. The main deck of the bridge stands tall at a height of 186 feet (57 meters) above the Cooper River.
Standing tall at a height of 575 feet (175 m) above the water, the towers of this structure are engineered to withstand wind gusts of up to 300 mph (483 kmh). This makes it stronger than any hurricane ever recorded in history.
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