In the wake of the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, civil engineers are once again raising concerns about the ability of bridges to withstand impact from cargo ships. The Key Bridge collapsed when a cargo ship collided with a support column, leading to two confirmed deaths and four more presumed deaths.
This is not the first time that a bridge collapse has been linked to a collision with a vessel. The infamous Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in 1980 prompted the introduction of new specifications for the design of highway bridges to better withstand such incidents. In 1991, new rules were implemented to ensure that bridges could withstand collisions with cargo ships.
One example of a bridge built with these vessel collision guidelines in mind is the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in South Carolina, completed in 2005. However, the increasing size of cargo ships, such as the MV Dali, present new challenges for bridge designers due to the growing volumes of maritime trade.
The recent collapse of the Key Bridge serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks posed by collisions between cargo ships and bridges. This tragedy may lead cities to reevaluate the safeguards in place on their bridges and consider implementing new safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Civil engineers are calling for increased attention to be paid to the design and construction of bridges to ensure that they can withstand the impact of cargo ships. The safety of these crucial pieces of infrastructure is paramount, and steps must be taken to prevent future tragedies like the collapse of the Key Bridge.
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