@Chiza :
Great thread. I have been thinking about you. I wish I could talk to my dad right now. He was a captain on an ocean going tug boat. He was well respected in his field. I would love to know what he would think about this.

@Chiza : That's totally fair. This was just the first time I've seen this version of the video, and it definitely stirs up questions.

@Donnawisdom : Well, one good thing that could come out of this is to only allow ship passage under a bridge during times when auto traffic is stopped. Maybe late night hours when traffic is light? Don't trains do something similar around the bigger cities?

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I've seen a large vessel loose power before. I use too over see manufacturing and installation of large electric motors. A large amount of oilfield work boats were set up electric propulsion. This one vessel we installed 4 ea 3000HP motors for the thrusters. We were out doing some monitoring and testing when one of the boat crew was injured in some 12 ft seas. Cap was maneuvering to the rig to swing him up on yhe widow maker when the ship went black.
Complete shut down. Thankfully they were able to get back online in the last minute before we hit the rig. Later on I had heard they had several of those "black out" conditions.

For certain @e, we are going to feel this for many, many years....the spokeswoman did a wonderful job. And I appreciate that she stuck to/is sticking to the facts and not giving fluff. She didn't really have much to say except what they are in the process of doing and why they are there and who will be there.

It's terrifying @FlipZ. I give those engineers a lot of credit for what they do. I prefer to look out the window and see what I'm doing. The black out conditions never seem to come when things are calm....its always in a high intensity situation. Glad y'all were safe.

I have been on a similar size vessel as the Dali @e....now in my career I steer towboats....the one I currently operate on a regular basis is 60' long and 1000hp. I can move an entire fleet with my little boat. The biggest Towboat I operated was 111' long and 3000hp. That was going up the Illinois River to Lemont Illinois. Most of the boats I've operated were between 75' and 90' and between 1650hp and 2200hp. let me add, the longest tow I've pushed with those boats was 1,000' making my overall length 1111'. It's like pushing 3 football fields in front of the boat.

Who knows how long it took to get their backup power to come online @TexasTideFan, you'd like to believe it would be instantly...but idk. And would it power everything? Generally not. Additionally, to be able to get this vessel in reverse isn't as easy as shifting gears...it's a whole process. And depending on how much air they have and if the engines are ready, she may never have been using astern propulsion.

I was thinking of you and your Pops too @Donnawisdom. It's always interesting to hear other Mariners thoughts. Sending you hugs.

@Chiza : I couldn't help notice from the live reports, that the current of the Patapsco River at the point of the bridge prior to enter the harbor was pretty swift coming inwards. That could have also contributed to the shifting of the vessel in between the two power outages. Only an observation.

I think thats a great observation @olemiss1968. I heard the wind was strong too. So many factors that have to be looked into and taken into consideration.

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@Chiza : As I understand it, or even after I have driven a smaller 20 ft boat, it keeps going long after power was chopped. When I wanted to come to the dock, I would reverse the propeller. You cant do that if theres no power.