PC 462

On 6/5/2024 at 7:19 AM, jimbo5544 said:

If you are referring to me, we did not get anywhere near Greenland, certainly not close enough to view anything.  We had to deal with significant weather issues approaching (the two days before we were supposed to get there) and also with yet another hurricane on the way back.  In between that we did get to see some very nice Canadian ports.  All things said, it was a nice 14 day cruise, but that said (and we tend to try for the different in travel and cruising, including a 14 day cruise to Antartica this past January), would we try this one again?  No, unless the price came down dramtically.

I was also on this cruise. This turned out to be one of the most enjoyable cruises I have taken. The entertainment in the theater was great with a bona fide Broadway singer. We attended more comedy shows than ever. I even enjoyed tracking our course and speed as we all wondered where we would end up going.

You never know how things will turn out.

From May 10.

Carnival just gave this update to WMAR-2 News: "We informed our guests that we have been given a strong indication that cruise traffic can return to Baltimore before the end of May, and based on guidance from port officials, we are planning to embark guests on Carnival Pride's May 19 cruise in Norfolk, Va. but expect to conclude the sailing in Baltimore. We are encouraging our guests to register for our complimentary bus service between Baltimore and Norfolk for the sailing's embarkation. We remain in close contact with local, state, and federal officials regarding the return of our operations at the Port of Baltimore."

Port officials tell WMAR-2 News they have no new information to share yet. They're waiting for an updated "Marine Safety Information Bulletin" from the Coast Guard, which is expected to have more details.

From May 14

According to the Coast Guard, the Captain of the Port will open the 48-foot channel on May 14 for commercial vessels from 8 PM to 6 AM.  Vessel transits will remain at the discretion of the Captain of the Port based on prevailing weather conditions and salvage operations.  Winds must be less than 15 knots and two escort tugs are required.

The Coast Guard said that commercial vessels can now traverse the 48-foot channel daily from 8 PM to 6 AM.  Too late for the usual cruise departure.

2 minutes ago, bar1068 said:

Almost a certainty at this point that it will.

Good answer.

It's tantalizing to see her slowly appear from behind that building.

5 hours ago, JMAE said:

According to the Unified Commend Response Progress Graphic on the response webpage they are showing the channel with the 35' draft as cleared above and below the surface.  The 20' channel is the channel show on the right in the graphic. The area that shows clear in the main channel is the limited access with a depth of 35'.  My guess the cruise line does not want to get ahead of the politicians on this announcement.  The graphic changed yesterday afternoon, as of me typing this note no news release issued.  I anticipate news conference be conducted before CCL makes an announcement.    

 

   

The news is that the 35 foot channel will open to traffic on Thursday!

I have been amazed with the steady and rapid progress that has been made.  When I first saw the wreckage after the collapse, I was wondering if it would be cleared before my cruise in SEPTEMBER!!

Simply wonderful and incredible.

12 hours ago, JMAE said:

We are on the same sailing. The Key Bridge Response web page was updated today to show the temporary channel is cleared above and below the surface. So I hope we hear something tomorrow. 

The third channel is 20 feet deep and the Pride has a draft of 25 feet,  Baltimore won't be an option until the 35 foot channel is opened, possibly at the end of the month of April.  Carnival might wait until the main 50 foot deep channel is opened towards the end of May.

Hope everyone enjoys the cruise on the 28th!  Wish I was going!!

Carnival Pride has a draft of 25 feet.  A third channel was opened today with a depth of 20 feet, so we aren't there yet.  It is still planned to have a 35-foot channel opened by the end of April, with the full 50-foot channel re-opened by the end of May.

If the 35-foot channel is opened, and if Carnival will run through with 10 feet to spare under the hull, then the April 28 and later cruises may leave from Baltimore.

If they won't chance the 35-foot channel, it's not likely.  A large part of the steel bridge and the concrete roadway are still on the bow of the container ship, and two bodies have yet to be recovered.

Four days later and they're cutting and lifting the northern section.  That's quicker than I expected. The idea is to clear a smaller channel (not the main channel) to allow smaller vessels to get into position to work on removing the metal on the ship and in the main channel.

4 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

Just remember that until the last few moments, the ship was in the shipping channel.  Also, like most cruisers, and one poster on this thread, I believe, perspective is deceiving, as it looks like the ships are almost touching the bridges as they go under, so how well a person could determine that a ship was too close to the bridge abutment is up in the air.

This is true.  I have been driving over the Key Bridge when a vessel was passing underneath and would never have been able to see it being off course, unless it was way, way, way off course.  Also, the workers were on the side of the bridge away from the approaching vessel, so there would have been no way for them to see it coming.  A ship passing under the bridge may have seemed routine to them, and no special cause for concern, or even interest.

12 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

I have been wrong before (today even), but I am more than fairly confident that unless something else really goes bad, the chance will be open ASAP, too much dependent on it.  The only thing that gives some cause for concern is whether some of the containers on the cargo ship that were compromised had something in them that could create a hazardous waste/contamination issue.  Let's hope that is not the case.

I just found this news.  

The cargo ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was carrying dozens of hazardous material containers, some of which were breached during the collapse, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced Wednesday.

NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy on Wednesday said the agency was able to obtain the cargo manifest of the ship, named Dali, which was on its way to Sri Lanka when it smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore overnight Tuesday. 

She said one of the NTSB senior hazmat investigators identified “56 containers of hazardous materials” on Dali, a 985-foot-long vessel. 

“That’s 764 tons of hazardous materials — mostly corrosives, flammables and some miscellaneous hazardous materials, class nine hazardous materials which would include lithium-ion batters,” Homendy said during a Wednesday press conference. “Some of the hazmat containers were breached.” 

3 hours ago, wrp96 said:

 

Police officers were getting in their cars to go warn the construction workers when the bridge collapsed.  They just didn't have enough time.   

Also, Governor Moore spoke with one of the two survivors of the collapse, who told him that a first responder was able to verbally tell him to get off the bridge.  The officer was holding traffic and could not leave his post to drive up and warn the other workers.

28 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

While the bridge reconstruction will take years, I cannot see any reason that the port will be closed more than a few sailings.  

From your post to God's ears (or eyes!).

57 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

That's what I'm wondering... we embark on Pride Sept 1 and so far it's still out of Baltimore.🤷‍♀️

I'm booked on the September 22 Pride cruise to Bermuda.  All we can do is wait and see.

2 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Oh got it. I was seeing talk about a transatlantic and didn’t realize there was another repositioning. But I see. Legend to Europe, Pride taking over in Baltimore?

That is correct.

Whether it takes over in Baltimore or Norfolk........

19 minutes ago, mz-s said:

I am surprised they made the call so soon. They must have received word that the harbor wouldn't be navigable in time for the turnaround in 6 days. It is good for folks on the next cruise, they can go ahead and make preparations to go to Norfolk instead of Baltimore.

I don’t know. I’m booked for a September departure. From the looks of the channel, I’m expecting to leave from Norfolk.

I hope not, but it doesn’t look promising.

27 minutes ago, Wehwalt said:

You're still going to be limited by the clearance under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (US 50) which I find to be 186 feet. That's going to rule out the newest ships.

That is true. But both of the spans of the Bay Bridge from Annapolis to the Eastern Shore are older than the Key Bridge. One day they will be replaced. In fact, Maryland already has approval for a third span. I hope that higher bridges will be built in the fullness of time.

4 minutes ago, beltsbear said:

I have lived in the are for years.  The bridge is important and will be missed, but the marine traffic is essential.  They need to clear the debris like it is wartime.  They can't drag this out over months.  It needs to be done in weeks.  While most people do not get their food from the port, tens of thousands of jobs rely on it, along with fuel and essential industrial/farming equipment.  Two weeks won't ruin things, but two months will cause serious issues.  

 

A new bridge will of course take years.  But most trucking did not require the key bridge.  It was only required for oversize or hazmat loads, which can go the longer way around the other side of the beltway.  And yes, this will make traffic worse of course.

I would sometimes commute over the Key Bridge, instead of either tunnel, or through downtown Baltimore.  It was a longer trip for me, but it was BEAUTIFUL!

The clearing of the channel will tell us how seriously the powers that be take the importance of the maritime industry.  The port infrastructure needs upgrading.

Like the Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, which resulted in the rebuilding of downtown with safer modern buildings, water, and sewer, this tragedy could result in the rebuilding of a safer bridge;  maybe even a higher bridge that would allow for larger modern cruise ships to access Baltimore.

I mean, it is gone.  Completely gone!

There are people in the water from cars and trucks on the Bridge.  Search and rescue is underway.

Video shows moment a Baltimore bridge collapses after ship collision | CNN

"The entire bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River," said Kevin Cartwright , the director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department.

Unbelievable!

I've passed under it many times on Carnival Legend and Carnival Pride.

1 minute ago, NextOne said:

Checking in. Are the lines down yet?

Still tied up.

If you like snorkeling, the ABC islands are great for that.

On 12/6/2023 at 10:23 AM, cyntil8ing said:

Baltimore is fun too; two bridges instead of just one. I think NYC is definitely a "must do". San Juan is great too, especially since most departures are in the dark, a different experience than most.

 

No rankings from me. They're all good!

Leaving Baltimore there is a wonderful view of Fort McHenry as well as NS Savannah, the first nuclear-powered merchant ship.