Was it sabotage?

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore hit by ship and collapses

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Hit By Ship; Collapses

At 1:28 AM local time today, 26 March 2024, The Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD collapsed after being hit by a ship.  Video of the actual collision appears below.

#BREAKINGNEWS #maryland #baltimore #Keybridge collapses after contact with cargo ship pic.twitter.com/A1LmKwZxkX

— Hayward Jablomi (@HaywerdJablomi) March 26, 2024

The still image below was taken from a LIVE video camera at 7:38 AM eastern US time this morning:

This Bridge was part of Interstate 695 known as the Baltimore Beltway.   I-695 is the route many trucks took to avoid the Fort McHenry Tunnel on I-95. 

The bridge is named after Francis Scott Key who was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet from Frederick, Maryland, best known as the author of the text of the U.S. national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Key observed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814 during the War of 1812 

This is an incredibly important roadway and bridge.  This will adversely affect commerce from Washington, DC all the way up to New York City and even to Boston.

The bridge spanning the Baltimore Harbor and shipping channels was a vital connection for communities and transporting goods and people across waterways. It had four lanes and a speed limit of 55 mph, ensuring smooth traffic flow while adhering to safety standards. The bridge carried an estimated 11.5 million vehicles annually, with an average daily traffic of 31,500 vehicles.

As a result of this catastrophe, the Port of Baltimore is now CLOSED.  No ships in or out.

What this translates to is serious:

Baltimore is a big port.  The Port's private and public terminals handled 847,158 autos and light trucks in 2023, the most of any U.S. port for the thirteenth straight year.

In 2023, the Port ranked first in the nation in handling automobiles, light trucks, farm and construction machinery, as well as imported sugar and gypsum. The Port ranked second in the country for exporting coal. In 2022, the Port ranked sixth for importing coffee, 119,000 tons worth $609 million. "

Overall, the Port of Baltimore is the 11th most important Port in America.

Baltimore Port lies close to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, the eastern part of the U.S, on the Patapsco River, making it one of the busiest ports and industrial centers in the region.

Along its 72 km long shoreline lies 5 public and 12 private terminals, handling general merchandise, dry and liquid bulk commodities, containerized cargo, etc. The port handles 37,850,000 tons of cargo, 632,000 TEU and 252,000 passengers annually.

The Port of Maryland has the deepest harbor in Chesapeake Bay. It is also closer to the Midwest than any other East Coast Port and also just an overnight drive of one-third of the country’s population.

The Port of Baltimore, responsible for 25% of the country’s coal exports.

According to Ship Finder, as shown on the map below, the vessel which struck the bridge is named the "DALI" flagged out of Singapore.

Reports indicate upwards of twenty highway workers, who were on the bridge when it collapsed, are "missing."

Images from Dockside in the Port of Baltimore, show the devastation:

Baltimore Fire Dispatch has stated that 7 Construction Workers and 3-4 Civilian Vehicles are still Missing following the Collapse

UH OH . . . . According to BalticShipping.com, this vessel had two Masters.  One an Oiler/motorman, the other:

Direct Link to BalticShipping.com (HERE)

WAR SABOTAGE?

This would be the number one port to take out if there was going to be a war in Europe.  Port of Baltimore is the largest port in the US for specialized cargo (specifically for wheeled cargo, such as trucks and trailers) and bulk handling facilities.  You know, like Roll-on Roll-off to load tanks, tracked vehicles, etc.

One aspect to this incident that makes it VERY suspect is the rule which requires: 

""Each ship engaged in foreign trade coming to Maryland ports is required to take on a local ship handling specialist, known as the Pilot, to navigate the vessel safely into port."

CYBER ATTACK?

The Internet is now ablaze with concerns the ship may have been cyber-attacked.   About one minute before the collision, all the lights on the ship go out.   They come back on, and suddenly, the ship veers sharply to its right, directly TOWARD the bridge support-piling.   The vessels' lights go out AGAIN, and when they return, the ship seems to try to steer sharply left, but the impact takes place.

Internet users are theorizing the ship was cyber-attacked.   Hacked.  But this is just a THEORY.  Below is just one example of the theories blazing the Internet right now.

What else could explain the complete failure of ALL safety systems aboard that vessel, and within the port?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), FBI, and U.S. Coast Guard are on scene.  

The Governor of Maryland has declared a State of Emergency.

WAS IT AN “ACCIDENT?”: LARA LOGAN INTEL SOURCES CLAIM THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE WAS “AN ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT STRATEGIC ATTACK”

There are many questions surrounding the crash, especially regarding the alleged power outages the cargo ship was experiencing only moments before the crash. WATCH:

Credit for video “End Time Survival” channel on youtube

Early this morning, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD, collapsed after a cargo ship collided with a support column, causing the bridge to collapse. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is a significant commuter route carrying the Baltimore Beltway I-695 over the Patapsco River at the southern end of the Baltimore Harbor.

There are no official reports on casualties yet; however, there are unconfirmed cars in the water and reports of several construction workers unaccounted for. As of just before 5 a.m. EDT, rescue crews have not pulled anyone out of the water. A road crew was fixing potholes on the bridge at the time. Two people were rescued from the water. One was not injured; the other was seriously hurt and was hospitalized. Search efforts are underway for six others who are missing.

The mainstream media continues to report that the curious collision was “an accident.”

The power is clearly turned on as the cargo ship hits the support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Are we to believe the ship relied solely on the lights to see where it was going? Did the ship not have a backup generator in case of a power outage? How did the ship run into a support column on one of the most critical bridges in America? Did the ship not have GPS?

Independent journalist Lara Logan’s report on the “accident” is very different from the reports in the mainstream media.

Here’s what Logan had to say about the cargo ship’s “accident” with the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore:

Multiple intel sources: The Baltimore bridge collapse was an “absolutely brilliant strategic attack” on US critical infrastructure – most likely cyber – & our intel agencies know it. In information warfare terms, they just divided the US along the Mason-Dixon line, exactly like the Civil War.

The second busiest strategic roadway in the nation for hazardous material is now down for 4-5 years – which is how long they say it will take to recover. Bridge was built specifically to move hazardous material – fuel, diesel, propane gas, nitrogen, highly flammable materials, chemicals, and oversized cargo that cannot fit in the tunnels – that supply chain now crippled.

Make no mistake: this was an extraordinary attack in terms of planning, timing & execution.

The two critical components on that bridge are the two load-bearing pylons on each end, closest to the shore. They are bigger, thicker and deeper than anything else. These are the anchor points and they knew that hitting either one one of them would be a fatal wound to the integrity of the bridge.

Half a mile of bridge went in the river – likely you will have to build a new one. Also caused so much damage to the structural integrity of the bottom concrete part that you cannot see & won’t know until they take the wreckage apart. Structural destruction likely absolute.

Attack perfectly targeted.

“They have figured out how to bring us down. As long as you stay away from the teeth of the US military, you can pick the US apart. We are arrogant and ignorant – lethal combination. Obama said they would fundamentally change America and they did. We are in a free-fall ride on a roller coaster right now – no brakes – just picking up speed.”

The footage shows the cargo ship never got in the approach lane in the channel. You have to be in the channel before you get into that turn. Location was precise/deliberate: chose a bend in the river where you have to slow down and commit yourself – once you are committed in that area there is not enough room to maneuver.

Should have had a harbor pilot to pilot the boat. You are not supposed to traverse any obstacles without the harbor pilot.

They chose a full moon so they would have maximum tidal shift – rise and fall. Brisk flow in that river on a normal day & have had a lot of rain recently so water was already moving along at a good pace.

Hit it with enough kinetic energy to knock the load-bearing pylon out from under the highway – which fatally weakens the span and then 50 percent of the bridge fell into the water.

All these factors when you look at it – this is how you teach people how to do this type of attack and there are so few people left in the system who know this. We have a Junior varsity team on the field.

Tremendous navigational obstruction. Huge logistical nightmare to clean this up. Number of dead is tragic but not the whole measure of the attack.

That kind-of bridge constantly under repair – always at night because there is so much traffic and they cannot obstruct that during the day. So concern is for repair guys who were on foot (out of their vehicles) working who may now be in the water – 48 degrees at most at this time of year.

When you choke off Baltimore you have cut the main north-south hazardous corridor (I95) in half. Now has to go around the city – or go somewhere else.

To move some of that cargo through the tunnel you may be able to get a permit but those are slow to get and require an escort system that is expensive and has to be done at night.

For every $100 dollars that goes into the city, $12 comes from shipping. Believe this will cripple the city of Baltimore at a time when they do not have the resources to recover.

Multiple intel sources: Baltimore bridge collapse was an “absolutely brilliant strategic attack” on US critical infrastructure – most likely cyber – & our intel agencies know it. In information warfare terms, they just divided the US along the Mason Dixon line exactly like the…

— Lara Logan 

Watch the cargo ship turn toward the support column in the videos shown in this tweet:

This was not random. Multiple camera angles already setup. Every news outlet reporting precisely 6 ”missing” in tandem. They watermark their atrocities with the same occult numerology and symbolism every time but most people are too stupid to even notice #baltimorebridge pic.twitter.com/GyNpw5UmmJ

— truthinplainsight (@truthplainsight) March 26, 2024

Rick Wiles of TruNews is asking questions

He looks at the following article

Baltimore bridge collapse: Ship loses power then starts smoking - what CCTV and marine tracking tells us about what happened

Sky News's Data & Forensics unit looks at what happened in the minutes before the container ship hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

From InfoWars

General Flynn Calls Baltimore Barge Disaster A Black Swan Event

A "Black Swan Event" - General Flynn Raises Questions About Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Here's a live broadcast of the disaster area in Baltimore, Maryland. 

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Update (1508ET): 

"Can we take the idea that this [Baltimore bridge collapse] was a terrorist attack off the table ... and absolutely we cannot do that," President Trump's former national security adviser (and retired lieutenant general) Michael Flynn told Alex Jones in an online interview. 

Flynn called the container ship ramming the 1.6-mile-long bridge mile bridge at the Port of Baltimore a "black swan" event. 

EXCLUSIVE: General Flynn Calls Baltimore Barge Disaster A Black Swan Event pic.twitter.com/NfDS5LUMBA

— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) March 26, 2024

Meanwhile, the White House and federal government agencies have been quick to declare this was not a terror attack. 

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Update (1423ET):

Maritime job placement company BalticShipping shows the captain of the container ship is a Ukranian. 

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Update (1356ET):

Bloomberg Intelligence reports: 

Reinsurers Could Bear Brunt of Baltimore Bridge Collapse Claims

The bulk of claims from the March 26 Baltimore bridge collapse will likely fall on reinsurers. The ship has about $3 billion of reinsurance coverage over a $100 million retention. Chubb is reported to be the lead insurer on the bridge's property cover but might recover losses paid. We note it's still early, and this will be a complex loss.

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Update (1229ET):

President Biden is expected to address the press at 1230 PM EST regarding the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse at the Port of Baltimore. At 0130 AM EST, a container ship lost propulsion and collided with the 1.6-mile-long bridge, leading to an instant collapse. 

The current issue revolves around an emerging disruption in mid-Atlantic supply chains. The major East Coast port is now paralyzed due to the mangled bridge blocking the only shipping lane in and out of the harbor.

Bloomberg reports that the US automotive supply chain will be disrupted. Data shows that Mazda Motor and Mercedes Benz, Subaru of America, Mitsubishi Motors of North America, and Volkswagen Group have the most exposure to the port.

Source: Bloomberg 

"It's a large port with a lot of flow through it, so it's going to have an impact," John Lawler, Ford Motor Co.'s chief financial officer, said Tuesday on Bloomberg TV. 

Lawler continued, "We'll work on the workarounds. We'll have to divert parts to other ports along the East Coast or elsewhere in the country."

Earlier, Consol Energy shares plunged nearly 10%, the most since October, as the bridge collapse will affect its massive coal terminal, which is served by CSX trains. 

A major sugar refinery owned by American Sugar Refining Inc. warned its Domino Sugar refinery only has six to eight weeks of raw sugar supplies as the blockage affects ships moving in and out of the port. 

Major cruise ship terminal

The supply chain snarls have sent major logistics companies scrambling across the US East Coast on Tuesday afternoon. 

"Our first priority is engaging clients to make plans for containers that were originally routed to Baltimore that will be discharged at other ports on the Eastern Seaboard," Paul Brashier, vice president of drayage and intermodal for ITS Logistics, told CNBC. 

"These diverted volumes will impact the ports of New York/New Jersey, Norfolk and the Southeast and we have to prepare trucking and transload capacity to get that freight to its intended network," Brashier said.

Goetz Alebrand, senior vice president and head of ocean freight for the Americas at DHL Global Forwarding, told CNBC:

"The immediate impact is with the cargo on board and its accessibility. Other planned shipments through Baltimore will likely be rerouted, potentially increasing cargo flow to New York, Norfolk, and nearby ports.

"Bulk and car carriers reliant on Baltimore must assess operations in the event of a prolonged closure."

According to the shipping journal Lloyd's List, Baltimore is the eleventh-largest port in the nation, making an average of 207 port calls per month. 

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Update (1018ET):

An unclassified report from the DHS National Operations Center says the container ship "lost propulsion" before it rammed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

Here's a video of the incident:

Video seems to show repeated power losses on ship just before it destroyed Francis Scott Key Bridge.pic.twitter.com/REoGCL9zcu

— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) March 26, 2024

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Update (0935ET):

Bloomberg's Brendan Murray explains how the collapsed bridge blocking the only shipping lane in and out of the Port of Baltimore is about to spark a supply chain crisis across the Mid-Atlantic: 

An economic disruption along the US East Coast is unfolding with potentially tragic human consequences after a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, sending nearly the entire roadway structure crumbling into the water.

The immediate priority of the rescuers is finding people who may have been on the bridge either working or driving across. The ship, the Singapore-registered Dali, was operated by charter company Synergy Group and is time chartered by Maersk carrying Maersk customers' cargo.

Of secondary concern in the days ahead will be tough questions about the effect on business, commuters, holiday travelers and the economy across the region.

The Port of Baltimore — the biggest handler of US imports and exports of cars and light trucks — looks to be out of commission indefinitely. The resulting bottleneck could accelerate a shift of goods through West Coast ports. Another crucial question: Which other ports have spare capacity to handle the Ro-Ro vessels that carry automobiles if Baltimore is closed for an extended period.

And it begins:

One very big logistical complication in the Baltimore bridge collapse is that the Francis Scott Key Bridge was the main route for hazardous materials (which aren't allowed to be transported through the tunnels) pic.twitter.com/dj2vR7OVdL

— Tracy Alloway (@tracyalloway) March 26, 2024

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Update (0814 ET):

ABC News reports the Singapore-flagged "Dali" container ship "lost propulsion" as it left the Port of Baltimore just before it rammed the Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

"The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel and a collision with the bridge was possible," ABC quoted the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as saying, adding, "The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse."

Bloomberg's Josh Wingrove says, "Authorities are heavily downplaying the risk of foul play here." 

Authorities are heavily downplaying the risk of foul play here.

"We don't see anything that relates to that at this time. It's an open investigation but there's nothing that points to that, " Wiedefeld said.

No indication as of now of "nefarious intent," per the White House.

— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) March 26, 2024

Meanwhile, some X users are saying:

🚨 Baltimore, Maryland

SITREP: The Francis Scott Key Bridge was Struck by a Cargo Ship, Collapsing the Bridge

• My opinion is This was a potential cyber attack. Notice the ship lights go off before steering into the column

• Sonar indicates that several vehicles are in the… pic.twitter.com/mII8BG5Xed

— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) March 26, 2024

Is the US under attack?

Cargo ship slams into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing bridge to collapse.

Multiple cars plunge into the water. Currently, rescue teams are on the scene. So sad. Please
Pray for these families😢🙏💕

pic.twitter.com/EcCo6AOqiG

— Sue Knows Best (@sues86453) March 26, 2024

BREAKING🚨: Mass Casualties. Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. This comes just days after the Crocus terror attack in Moscow which has been widely blamed on the West. pic.twitter.com/zgC4tO24wH

— Alex James (@actualAlexJames) March 26, 2024

Analyzed footage of the Baltimore Harbor incident.

The MSM says this was an accident, with no evidence of foul play. What say you?

Responders are still searching for at least 7 people in the Key Bridge area of Baltimore, Maryland. pic.twitter.com/LGxLMLGUPd

— Eddie (@ICU1010) March 26, 2024

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Update (0645 ET):

A massive container ship chartered by Maersk and moving outbound from the Port of Baltimore struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge around 0130 ET. The bridge collapse has paralyzed a large swath of the largest inland port on the East Coast. The port is ranked 9th for total dollar value of cargo and 13th for cargo tonnage among US ports. 

Governor Wes Moore released a statement on the collapse, declaring a State of Emergency in Maryland:

"My office is in close communication with US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. I have declared a State of Emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration. We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety. We will remain in close contact with federal, state, and local entities that are carrying out rescue efforts as we continue to assess and respond to this tragedy." 

Chief Kevin Cartwright, the Baltimore City Fire Department's director of communications, told Fox Baltimore that at least 20 people and several vehicles had fallen into the river. 

In markets, Maersk shares in Copenhagen are trading down more than 3% on the news. 

Shocking radio transmission: "The entire Key Bridge is in the harbor." 

Radio traffic from the first arriving @BaltimoreFire unit.

“SOC5 to Battalion 6 and Communications, I’m at Fort Armistead, be advised the entire bridge, the entire Key Bridge is in the harbor.” pic.twitter.com/wTlPxLStRf

— Andrew Doyle (@doyle0213) March 26, 2024

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Shocking footage is coming from Baltimore City, home to one of the nation's largest marine ports. It shows a container ship striking the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge and collapsing it

🚨#BREAKING: Mass Casualty has been Declared after a Large Container Ship Collides with Key Bridge Causing it completely Collapse⁰
📌#Baltimore | #Maryland

Currently, numerous agencies, including the Coast Guard and fire department have just declared a mass casualty incident as… pic.twitter.com/wvOTOVbvHE

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 26, 2024

Here's another view of the container ship strike. 

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland which crosses the Patapsco River has reportedly Collapsed within the last few minutes after being Struck by a Large Container Ship; a Mass Casualty Incident has been Declared with over a Dozen Cars and many Individuals said to… pic.twitter.com/SsPMU8Mjph

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 26, 2024

"This effectively shuts down the Port of Baltimore completely. I'm truly speechless," one X user said. 

Pictured: Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed. This is the bridge I drive every single day. This effectively shuts down the Port of Baltimore completely. I’m truly speechless pic.twitter.com/BzqPa3axJ2

— Wade Raynor (@WadeRaynor_) March 26, 2024

Fox Baltimore's Olivia Dance describes the scene as "devastating." 

Photos of the collapsed Key Bridge sent to us by residents in the area.

Devastating. @FOXBaltimore pic.twitter.com/vh5MP477jI

— Olivia Dance (@OliviaDanceTV) March 26, 2024

According to the ship tracking website MarineTraffic, the Singapore-flagged cargo ship "Dali" slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge around 0130 ET. Bloomberg notes the ship was chartered by Maersk (remember Maersk's Ever Given in the Suez Canal a few years ago?). 

#MarineTraffic playback showing #Dali, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, colliding with Francis Scott Key Bridge in #Baltimore. En route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, it crashed at 1:30am. Follow rescue efforts on MarineTraffic and find out more about the vessel: https://t.co/5eiDnqpm2w pic.twitter.com/fykx9cWUF3

— MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) March 26, 2024

The bridge spans the Patapsco River and carries an estimated 11.5 million vehicles annually. In this collapse, the only shipping lane in and out of the port was severed. 

Baltimore is the most inland port on the East Coast and is connected to the I-95 highway network. With no commercial vessels sailing in and out of port anytime soon, this is catastrophic for port operations and could spark supply chain snarls in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. We suspect inbound vessels are rerouting sails this morning. 

The bridge collapse has severed these major marine terminals. It's unknown when operations will be restored. 

According to the Maryland government's website, the Port of Baltimore handled over 52 million tons of international cargo valued at more than $80 billion last year, ranking it as the ninth busiest port in the United States. The data shows that the port handled 847,158 autos and light trucks in 2023, the most of any US port. The port also handles farm and construction machinery, sugar, gypsum, and coal. 

The port supports 15,330 direct jobs and 139,180 jobs in Maryland, according to the Maryland government's website.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott's office posted on X:

"I'm aware of and en route to the incident at the Key Bridge. I have been in contact with Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace, Gov. Wes Moore (and the county executives of Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties). Emergency personnel are on scene, and efforts are underway."

*Developing...