The Chesapeake Bay Bridge experienced a temporary closure due to a 946-foot vessel encountering steering issues en route to a scrapyard, but authorities confirmed that the ship passed safely through. T.V. Johnson, a representative from the U.S. Maritime Administration, mentioned the steering problem was quickly resolved, crediting the ship’s master, pilot, and crew for averting a potential crisis. The Maryland Transportation Authority, responsible for the bridge, revealed that traffic on both spans was halted as a safety precaution upon receiving reports of a “ship in distress approaching the Bay Bridge” around 1:50 p.m. Normal traffic flow resumed at 2:05 p.m., stated authority spokesperson Kelly Melhem.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Olinda Romero confirmed that both the Coast Guard and the American Bureau of Shipping conducted inspections on the vessel, known as the Denebola, granting it permission to proceed with its journey. The ship, which dates back to 1973, served in the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force and was bound for a scrapyard in Beaumont, Texas, for recycling, as clarified by Johnson.
This incident follows a tragic event from months ago involving the Dali, a 984-foot container ship that lost power, leading to a collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and resulting in its collapse, leading to the deaths of six construction workers. While state regulations mandate that large vessels must be piloted by locally licensed personnel in Maryland waters, the presence of tugboat escorts near the Bay Bridge is not compulsory. Romero and Johnson stated their lack of knowledge concerning whether tugboats were accompanying the Denebola during the steering complications on Thursday.
