The Baltimore container ship disaster, which resulted in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsing, represents one of the most profound marmite accidents in recent memory.
Many Americans could not believe that such a massive bridge could come down so easily and feared that similar accidents could happen at any moment.
Now this shipping disaster in New York City has many Americans demanding change.
This accident in New York City could have easily been a lot worse
On March 26, 2024, the massive Francis Scott Key Bridge went tumbling down after a cargo ship rammed right into a bridge piling.
Experts believed this happened due to the ship losing power, causing the crew to lose control of the ship.
On Friday evening, another large container ship in New York harbor lost control after its propellers stopped functioning, causing tow boats to bring it back to port.
According to Fox News, “A large container ship lost propulsion in waters near New York Harbor Friday evening before tugboats pulled it to a stop at an anchorage near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. “
Adding, “The 89,000-ton vessel, the APL Qingdao, lost power in the Kill Van Kull waterway, a busy shipping lane between the Big Apple’s borough of Staten Island and New Jersey. A group of tugboats pulled the stalled vessel out of the way, placing it near the bridge to anchor safely while repairs could be made, the U.S. Coast Guard told Fox News Digital in a statement.”
The Coast Guard issued a statement on the matter, saying, “The vessel regained propulsion and was assisted to safely anchor in Stapleton Anchorage, outside the navigable channel just north of the Verrazzano Bridge, by three towing vessels.”
The Coast Guard added, “These towing vessels were escorting the vessel as a routine safety measure, which is a common practice for large vessels departing their berth.”
Unlike the ship that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the APL Qingdao lost propulsion abilities, which were returned in a short matter of time.
Nonetheless, this malfunction has caused an uproar, with many likening it to the Baltimore disaster.
Although this ship was brought to port in a timely manner, disaster could have ensued if the crew of the APL Qingdao had not been able to restore propulsion control in time.
Americans have learned that relying on global trade can have its downsides
As the world becomes more globalized and interconnected, supply chains have become more intricate and complicated.
This means that Americans have less control over global supply chains, which opens the door for calamities to ensue.
The Houthi rebels for example have taken advantage of this fact, disrupting shipping vessels in the narrow Strait of Hormuz, causing worldwide supply chain failures.
As far as American ports are concerned, many ports like Baltimore and New York see thousands of massive cargo ships flow through regularly, and if one of these ships suffers from a technical failure then it could have a domino effect across the globe.
Stay tuned to Blue State Blues for any updates to this ongoing story.
