Baltimore bridge disaster was rare; the conditions behind it are not

Table Of Content

• Explore the Mesmerizing Landscapes of the South Pacific & Australia
• More from The Times and The Sunday Times
• This Three-Year Cruise Visits 148 Countries on All Seven Continents
• Discover new cultures, landscapes, and adventures on our world cruises

Roughly 500 feet from the country’s longest suspension span – crossed by nearly a quarter-million vehicles a day – the ship was adrift with no steering, no propulsion and no engine. Fortunately, a pair of tugboats were able to rescue the U.S.-flagged vessel and tow it to safety, where it was determined a broken air compressor valve was to blame. On Sunday, Miray Cruises issued a statement in Turkish, denying that the cruise is canceled.

Explore the Mesmerizing Landscapes of the South Pacific & Australia

It represented an impressive bounce-back for a sector that feared it faced oblivion during the pandemic, after the outbreak of coronavirus led to ships being branded as “floating petri dishes”. The cruise industry was on its knees and facing the greatest challenge since 9/11, when travel suffered one of its biggest downturns. That type of pressure is difficult to mimic in a simulator, which is perhaps why the crew on the bridge of Cal Maritime’s digital ship operated with calm efficiency each time they ran through the scenario. Fourteen people died and five were injured in the accident, which the report said caused an estimated $30.1 million in damage to the bridge and $276,000 to the barges. Fortunately, traffic was light and vehicles stopped before reaching the missing portion of the bridge, according to an National Transportation Safety Board report of the crash.

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The cruise ship will have been fully modernized by the time she sets sail. Currently, she is in use to housing earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. The cruise line is aimed towards working professionals that want to spend time at sea while being able to carry out their work remotely. Another perk is the mindfully curated sailing route (which is especially impressive on this interactive Google Earth map). “Our itinerary places the MV Lara in the Northern Hemisphere in the summers and the Southern in the winters, so it’s always summer for Life At Sea Cruises,” she adds. They ensure that U.S ships are built and maintained to the highest standards and that its crews follow industry best practices.

This Three-Year Cruise Visits 148 Countries on All Seven Continents

Worldwide, between 1960 and 2015 ships or barges caused 35 major bridge collapses that killed 342 people, according to a 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.More than half occurred in the United States. “Lack of inspection, testing replacement/maintenance of the time delay relays” was to blame in February 2019, when the captain of the Portuguese container ship EMS Trader ordered an emergency lowering of the anchor. The ship had lost power, steering and propulsion not far from the Commodore Barry Bridge southwest of Philadelphia.

Discover new cultures, landscapes, and adventures on our world cruises

And rather than portioning the cruise for sale in smaller stages, the company required customers to commit to the full three years. Along the way, they would explore wonders of the world, visit UNESCO World Heritage sites and have plentiful chances to go diving and snorkeling, the company said. The original itinerary mapped 1,095 days of travel, heading from Istanbul to Europe and then to South America and the Caribbean. Passengers would then pass through the Panama Canal before seeing the U.S. Those customers are now scrambling to make new plans for where they will live for the next three years — and to extract refunds from the cruise line. The intense fallout is drawing comparisons to infamous debacles such as the Fyre Festival — the "luxury" music festival that was more like a "disaster relief area."

Explore the diverse beauty and rich cultures of North America and Hawaii. From the bustling cities of the United States to the stunning natural landscapes of Alaska, this region offers something for everyone. Whether you're seeking adventure, culture, or just a relaxing escape, North America and Hawaii are sure to leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. Explore more with our connected cruise journey, where you can discover 13 world wonders and immerse in new cultures all from the comfort of your ship. Yes, Villa Vie Residences, plans to sail the world in three and a half years, after purchasing a 924-passenger ship that is expected to launch in May. The MS Breamer ship will undergo a renovation that will begin early in 2024 and take roughly eight weeks to complete.

How Life at Sea’s 3-Year Cruise Unraveled - The New York Times

How Life at Sea’s 3-Year Cruise Unraveled.

Posted: Thu, 28 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Payments can now be made in semi-annual installments, with the first payment of 25% due on June 30, 2023. This first payment is a combination of a 10% deposit and the initial first payment of 15%. Life at Sea Cruises is offering adventurous guests to leave behind their land-based lifestyle.

For remote workers, the ship offers a unique business center that boasts 14 offices, various meeting rooms, a lounge and a business library. The starting cost of $29,999 a year, or $2,499 a month with a payment plan, is for a standard interior cabin. The most luxurious suite on board with a large balcony goes for $109,000 per year. Immerse yourself in the warm sunshine and turquoise waters of the Caribbean and Central America. Explore vibrant cities, lush jungles, and pristine beaches in this tropical paradise.

MV Gemini's Epic Maiden Voyage is November 2023

Some aspects of the Life at Sea cruise are not included in the fare, which is the case with many voyages. Prices do not include items such as shore excursions, spa services, alcohol served outside of dinner, permanent office space, medical procedures and medications, and some seasonal onboard premium services. Life at Sea Cruises is a new venture launched by Miray Cruises, a subsidiary of Miray International.

The 1,096-foot-long container ship Ever Lotus lost power while mooring at the Port of Los Angeles in November 2016. Even though the vessel’s crew was trained to slowly increase the pitch of the bow thruster so as to not overload the generators, “the pilot adjusted the pitch from 0% to 100% instantly,” according to the incident report. Although such disasters are rare, the conditions that could cause them are frighteningly common, according to a USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Coast Guard maritime incident data, which includes any reportable maritime event involving a death or injury, collision, grounding, environmental harm, or the loss of power and propulsion.

The voyage would continue through the Panama Canal before visiting the U.S. The  MV Gemini cruise ship was scheduled to set sail on November 30, with the original departure date having been rescheduled several times. For 67 days, the ship will explore the Caribbean and Central America with 29 destinations including Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the ancient Mayan ruins of Mexico and Belize. How do you pack a suitcase for a trip that includes ogling emperor penguins in the Falkland Islands, lazing on the beach in Hawai‘i, and spending nights out in major cities like Cape Town and Beijing? It’s a question you’ll have to ask yourself if you sign up for Life at Sea Cruises’ new around-the-world itinerary.

Miami, Florida, was originally one of the three available embarkation ports for Miray Cruises’ Life at Sea world cruise. The three available ports are now Istanbul on November 1, Barcelona on November 5, and Freeport, Bahamas, on November 15. The cruise line is offering a 15 percent discount on the double-occupancy rate for solo travelers. From the eclectic cities of Sydney and Melbourne to the pristine beaches of the South Pacific, this region offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation. Delve into the rich history of Australia, or soak in the sun on the beaches of Fiji. Explore the stunning mountains of New Zealand or the lush rainforests of Papua New Guinea.

This 3-year Cruise Visits 135 Countries on 7 Continents and It Might Cost Less Than You Pay in Rent

Table Of Content

• It List 2024
• What Did the Life at Sea’s 3-Year World Cruise Itinerary Looked Like?
• Map: Where ships have struck bridges, lost power
• Why Was Life at Sea’s 3-Year Cruise Cancelled?
• Embrace Europe's Timeless Charms

It was repaired and reopened later that year but permanently closed in 2016 after a new bridge was built in its place. The ship, going about 10 knots, tore away a 322-foot span of the bridge as it attempted to pass under a section with insufficient clearance. Such incidents reinforce the need for extra precaution when ships navigate near critical infrastructure, said Pandey of Massachusetts Maritime, who advocated for mandatory tug escorts regardless of the ship, its cargo or the port. Even if the engine had been working, Calnan said, it would have taken 0.8 nautical miles to bring that particular vessel under those particular conditions to a full stop – farther than the distance to the bridge it was about to hit. Sometimes a simple miscalculation can cause a crew to lose command of a ship – or cause an otherwise seaworthy ship to hit a bridge.

It List 2024

These rules also apply, to a certain extent, to foreign-flagged ships in U.S. waters, even though those ships might operate under what some experts described as subpar conditions. Yet the United States has some of the strictest maritime standards in the world, according to the experts. Its rules and regulations – which include a host of technical, personnel and environmental practices – go far beyond those set by the International Maritime Organization, which governs all global shipping. The impact sent a 503-foot section of the bridge tumbling into the river. Unlike the Kentucky bridge collapse, highway traffic on the I-40 span had continued to “drive into the void,” according to the NTSB report. Several incident reports attribute power losses to dirty – or degraded – fuel, as was the case in June 2017, when the Hong Kong-flagged Mallika Naree went dark on the Elizabeth River outside Norfolk, Virginia.

What Did the Life at Sea’s 3-Year World Cruise Itinerary Looked Like?

Despite the frequency of power failures and bridge strikes reported to the Coast Guard, the maritime shipping industry has had relatively few major accidents like the one that toppled the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Now, just a half mile from the span, the vessel has gone dark – no power, no steering, no propulsion. Inside the ship’s towering command center, the crew tries to re-engage the system but no luck.

Map: Where ships have struck bridges, lost power

Mechanical failure, human error and a host of other conditions can conspire to shut down a vessel’s engine, seize up its propulsion system or thwart its crew’s ability to steer. For the past half hour, the crew navigated the hulking vessel through relatively calm waters and lined it up to pass perfectly under the main truss of the steel bridge, softly lit in the early morning darkness. I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night. Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

Why Was Life at Sea’s 3-Year Cruise Cancelled?

The ship is equipped with a pool deck, gym, spa, and auditorium that will host everything from movie screenings to live performances. International cuisine is offered at its multiple bars and restaurants, ranging from fine dining to casual eats. Daily activities will include dance lessons, karaoke sessions, and yoga practices, among others. There is no charge for additional guests staying in your cabin, however family and friends are responsible for paying the local port taxes and fees($33 Per-day).

I spent half a million dollars on a three-year cruise, but the ship never turned up. Still, always be positive - The Guardian

I spent half a million dollars on a three-year cruise, but the ship never turned up. Still, always be positive.

Posted: Fri, 01 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Embrace Europe's Timeless Charms

While on the longest leg of the journey for 206 days in the South Pacific and Australia, you’ll visit Sydney and Melbourne, the beaches of Fiji, the mountains of New Zealand, and the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. Life at Sea Cruises is owned by Miray International, which has been bringing unique cruising experiences since 1996. It owns and operates the MV Gemini throughout the Aegean Sea, and the vessel Amor, which gives dinner and entertainment river cruises. Miray Cruises, a Turkish cruise operator and hotel services provider for the cruise industry, acquired the vessel in 2019. Miray Cruises has announced it will open for bookings for a three-year world cruise on March 1, 2023. The cruise will sail onboard the 1992-built MV Gemini and visit 135 countries on seven continents from November 2023 through the end of 2026.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

That includes a business center with meeting rooms, 14 offices, and a business library for all Zoom call needs. Passengers enjoy cruising’s highly-inclusive travel style and fares on Life at Sea’s 3-year voyage cover much of the cruise experience. Cruise prices include meals in all dining venues, alcohol with dinner, high-speed internet, entertainment and performances, enrichment lectures and programming, port fees and taxes, housekeeping and laundry services, and business center access. In addition, the ship will feature an onboard hospital offering free medical visits and a team of medical professionals providing 24-hour, on-call services. The ship's ground-breaking 36-month voyage will cover more than 130,000 miles and visit all seven continents. It will take in 135 countries and 375 ports with two to three days spent at each stop.

More from The Times and The Sunday Times

MV Gemini will set sail from Istanbul for the new Life at Sea Cruises brand on November 1, 2023, and passengers will also have the opportunity to embark in Barcelona and Miami. Since 2020, it has been owned by Miray International, a long-established Turkish company specializing in ship management, and operated through its cruise arm Miray Cruises. Miray formed the subsidiary travel brand Life at Sea Cruises to run the three-year cruise starting in fall 2023. From the bustling cities of South America to the pristine wilderness of Antarctica, discover the diverse beauty of this southern region. Witness the majesty of glaciers and ice formations, explore rugged coastlines, and capture memories of unique animals and ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth.

Now, Miray Cruises may have alleviated some of those with the purchase of an alternative ship. After that, 15% of each cruiser’s fare will be due semi-annually, with the next payment due on December 31, 2023. Prices for the cruise start at $29,999 per year, and the entire voyage is all-inclusive. Cabins range from 130 sq ft for Virtual Inside and Oceanview staterooms to 260 sq ft Balcony Suites. The details of what is included in the all-inclusive package can be found on our all-inclusive page.

The vast majority were classified as routine but a dozen were labeled major or significant. I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand. The company said that anyone requesting a refund will get one, and that it will reimburse travel expenses related to the cruise.

The 3-year cruise was canceled. Enter the 3.5-year cruise. - The Washington Post

The 3-year cruise was canceled. Enter the 3.5-year cruise..

Posted: Fri, 22 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

The ship will also include a 24-hour on-call hospital with free medical visits, learning and enrichment classes, and the opportunity to make a positive impact through volunteer and philanthropic initiatives. Several companies announced new residency ships in the last year, where guests live onboard instead of ashore. It won’t be something everyone will enjoy, but many will still see the benefits of embarking on a three-year journey that will span 130,000 miles, visit 375 ports of call in 135 different countries, and sail to all seven continents. The fantastic part of the three-year cruise is that the cost for guests can be as little as $2,500 per stateroom per month. This provides an excellent opportunity for those looking to travel while working while having all their daily needs taken care of.

Only one run involving tug boats averted the disaster, and even then only when two tugs at full power were tethered to the ship all the way under the bridge. That lineup is not a current day reality except in rare situations, such as tankers transporting oil or other toxins in certain ports. The Coast Guard uses an algorithm based on the vessel’s history and previous ports of call and current port to determine which ships to check. Other ship-on-bridge allisions killed people but did not topple the span. This includes the July 2015 death of a construction worker on the Eads Bridge in St. Louis when a tugboat pushing two loaded barges struck his scaffolding as it was passing under the span. And the August 2014 death of a tugboat master when his crane barge hit the Florida Avenue lift bridge in New Orleans and the crane’s mast fell onto the wheelhouse, crushing him.

The investigation revealed about 16 gallons of water had leaked into the fuel oil supply tank. On March 16, 2018, the bulk carrier Strategic Alliance lost power and propulsion on the Delaware River just north of the Commodore Barry Bridge, a 2.6-mile span connecting Philadelphia to New Jersey and carrying more than 41,000 vehicles a day. But most, including cases remarkably similar to what happened last month in Baltimore, have never been made public, buried deep in a federal database.

The itinerary will also cross the equator six times and cover 13 of the modern and ancient Wonders of the World including the Pyramids, Acropolis, Taj Mahal, Petra and Machu Picchu. While passengers have to commit to the entire voyage, they have the option of dividing travel with another passenger and taking it in turns to live on the ship, or leave the ship for periods and return to it. Friends and family are also welcome to visit free of charge and can stay in the same stateroom -- rollaway beds are available -- or in a guest cabin. This map shows issues categorized as "major" or "significant" marine casualties and “serious marine incidents” in U.S. Coast Guard incident investigation reports that mention a freight ship, freight barge, tank ship, tank barge or ocean cruise vessel striking a bridge. It also includes cases where ships lost power, propulsion or steering within two kilometers of a highway bridge over navigable waters.

Nearly two years later, the Dali-sized container ship Maersk Chicago lost power in New York’s Lower Bay Channel as it approached the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge late on a Wednesday night. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks. "In two days' time, we own this vessel," Life at Sea itinerary planner Robert Dixon said in late September, speaking in a promotional video from the bridge of a ship he called the "MV Lara." Terms of the deal help illuminate the would-be passengers' financial and logistical plight. Under its 12-month payment plan, the first draw came due one month ahead of the sail date.

In North America and Hawaii, 98 days give you the chance to explore landscapes in Alaska, stunning beaches, interesting cultures, and go on adventures. The cruise was originally slated to take place on the MV Gemini, which could accommodate up to 1,074 passengers, but due to demand, the company has since switched to the MV Lara, which allows for 1,266 passengers. As the most discerning, up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel, Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse, offering both inspiration and vital intel. We understand that time is the greatest luxury, which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal, a drink, or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world. Savor every bite with our all-inclusive dining options featuring a wide variety of cuisines and dishes, expertly prepared by our talented chefs. With all meals, snacks, and selected beverages included, you can indulge in culinary delights without a care in the world.