@Chiza :
Early on they said there was radio communication from the boat saying they were losing power. I guess when that happens there is such a loss of control. It seems like they need to make some kind of emergency stop for situations like that? Can they?I can't imagine being on that bridge in my car when that thing collapsed…terrifying beyond words, and freezing cold water to add more misery to that situation. 😩

I have a few friends that are Harbor Pilots @TEXASGIRLMAMMA, in various areas across the country....many here in Houston. It's not an easy job....although, some days it can be a breeze....but I know (and I contemplated) taking on their stress for a career....even on the clearest of skies with the lack of winds....things can change in an instant...and what's at stake. My company, sadly, has been involved in 2 major incidents in the HSC in the last 10 years...the impact is forever reverberating....and even with the Exxon Valdez and the "older" incidents....we don't forget and it still impacts us, today.

Sadly, there is no "emergency stop" capabilitiesfor a vessel. @MissAmericanPie. They will attempt to let go of their anchors in hopes to "stop"...but many times the water is so deep and the amount of anchor chain needed to "stop" the vessel cannot be achieved. From reports I've read, the anchors were let go. But idk the depth of the water nor when the anchors were deployed.

@Chiza :
That is such a shame…but any vehicle can have accidents I guess…even boats which seem to be almost free out there on a big ocean or lake. 🥲

@Chiza :
So have to ask- speculating. From what I've read- the ship lost power twice and did a MayDay. Could it have been sabotage/ hack. I mean DD can't tell me specifics on her job- but they are ALWAYS on alert for vulnerabilities. Just am not familiar with vulnerabilities you may face on your vessels

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There can always be vulnerabilities @Labslady....but I'll be honest, this is a low level one. Sad to say. I'm not an expert...but where I work you could take out the majority of HOU in one go, massively different than this. So I doubt but will not rule out

@Chiza :
Horrible.. The crew knew it was going to be a disaster. God Bless those Emergency Crews that tried to shut down the traffic before the horror. God Bless those that suffered. I cannot imagine. I'm not a fan of bridges…

@Chiza : Glad that bridges built in Texas are better fortified due to the hurricane factor.

After seeing this video, I'm wondering even more about any the claims of loss of power and control. @Chiza please let me know your thoughts either here or offline.

It's also just a tad more than a coincidence that the opening scene of the movie Leave the World Behind is that of a huge container ship that loses control and runs aground on a populated beach.

Yes, the anchors carried onboard vessels are probably about 5 shots in length (1 shot is 90 feet or 15 fathoms) @McCauley3....they likely had 2 anchors at the bow...maybe one on the stern. I don't know the specifics of this vessel. But they would have been able to drop anchor.

So, I have seen one of the videos where you can see the loss of power @donnatella, 3 times to be exact....let me go find it. Also, there are emergency generators that automatically come online. So lights and things would not necessarily completely go away. The backup steering is a whole other component and they use sound powered radios for those communications, but that's if someone got down to the emergency steering room in time. Let me find the video.

@Chiza : Oops, looks like I left off the link. www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL MXkErq/

@Chiza : I am wondering, why do these huge ships not have tugboats guiding them thru the bridge area? I have seen this when going over to bridge when I go to the beach. Is it normal for ships not to be ushered thru?