60ft ocean yacht for sale

An award winning sub 60 foot sailing yacht. Well-appointed with a powerful sail plan, she is ideal for shorthanded sailing

The Oyster 565 is a yacht without limits.

Practical and spacious for exhilarating blue water sailing, or relaxed coastal cruising for a couple, family and friends.

Powerful performance

A combination of the latest automated sail-handling equipment, large sail area, wide beam and twin rudders make the Oyster 565 a joy to sail shorthanded in any conditions.

Exceptional space

The large volume below decks on this 60 foot sailboat facilitates a spacious saloon, longitudinal galley, impressive owner’s cabin aft and a choice of cabin layouts, making her an ideal, luxurious liveaboard yacht – a home away from home for big adventures.

Iconic Oyster styling

The Oyster 565 60 foot sailing yacht builds on the many accomplishments of the pioneering Oyster 56 and 575. She displays all the core Oyster design cues and features found on our larger yachts.

The new 565 Series II

The pursuit of perfection continues

LOCAL EXPERTISE

For new yacht sales and our service operation in the Americas, visit our offices in the heart of the US East coast sailing scene, Newport, Rhode Island. We would be delighted to help.

Sleek, elegant lines and superyacht inspired features of the 565 epitomises the iconic style and spirit of Oyster yachts.

Oyster style and performance

The oyster 565 is amongst the best 60 foot yachts for sale, built using the most robust marine design and technology available and specified well-beyond normal requirements, to withstand the toughest of environments..

The 57 foot hull of the 565 is designed, engineered and certified to meet Lloyd’s Register Certification and constructed using the highest quality materials. It features a reinforced, monolithic composite structure for superior strength, stiffness and weight-optimisation, with further reinforcement in the slam zones and keel area.

Incorporating the latest nautical and domestic technology, every element from the hull, winches, through to the generator and door hinges are specifically specified for performance, strength and longevity. The levels of finish and luxury are of the highest standards thanks to the skill of our designers and master craftspeople. Every detail of the Oyster 565, from the strength of the hull, down to the smallest fixing, has been considered for outstanding robustness and seaworthiness to give you complete confidence at sea.

Oyster’s DNA runs through the length and breadth of the 565’s sleek lines. Naval architect Rob Humphreys-designed twin rudder hull form creates a longer waterline, delivering meaningful power and balance.

Packed with features cascaded down from our larger yachts – from the signature triple Seascape windows to the optional superyacht inspired hydraulic bathing deck, the 565 is a true luxury 60 foot sailboat for sale. The instantly recognisable deck saloon offers the perfect place for guests to relax under sail or at anchor. Twin helm stations are centrally located aft of the cockpit and with concealed lines, together with flush fore and aft decks, moving around is safe and easy, while providing ample space for entertaining.

The Oyster 565 is a joy to sail shorthanded or with a crew.

Designed for fast cruising, this 60 foot sailing yacht has an impressive turn of speed. The standard push-button in-mast furling, with a fractional-rigged sail plan, make her easily manageable in any conditions.

Twin helm positions house the intuitive powered sailing controls and navigation equipment, with electric winches in easy reach. A fixed bowsprit accommodates a choice of asymmetric sails and the 105% overlapping headsail. Her wide-beam aft and twin rudders make her sure-footed and well-balanced in boisterous seas, yet light, direct and agile on the helm. On long passages, she ticks off the miles effortlessly and when arriving safely at your destination, her optional, powerful, retractable bow and stern thrusters make her simple to manoeuvre – spin her on her keel and slide into the tightest berths.

The exceptional volume below decks offers the opportunity to create stylish contemporary interiors that make a real home from home.

Contemporary luxury and comfort

The interior of the oyster 565 offers an expansive sense of space not normally found on a 60 foot sailing yacht, thanks to the volume created by her generous beam..

Well-appointed throughout, the social spaces, galley and cabins are all well-proportioned, comfortable and luxurious, while being eminently practical. With materials, fixtures and fittings carefully considered, from the mood lighting system to the saloon table, optional day bed and intuitively positioned grab rails – everything is specified to the highest standard. Oyster’s attention to detail reveals itself in everything from the beautiful handcrafted cabinetry, hand-assembled wiring loom, to the rubber mounted wooden floors that eliminate floorboard creaks. With a choice of versatile cabin layouts, there is space for up to six guests and on extended ocean passages the versatile work room doubles as a cabin for an additional crew member.

Oysters are a platform for adventure, designed to take you anywhere in the world in luxury, comfort and safety.

Informed by decades of owner adventures, the Oyster 565, the best 60 foot sailboat, is a liveaboard yacht designed for long periods at sea. Every inch has been considered to provide a welcoming environment, extensive stowage and easy access for maintenance.

On deck, a convenient forward sail locker and a full width lazarette aft provide excellent stowage. Down below, the heavily cored hull creates a real sense of peace and calm, a safe haven in heavy weather. Home luxuries include full-sized appliances in the longitudinal galley, which is well designed and equipped for cooking at sea. The saloon is light and spacious, with excellent natural ventilation from the forward opening saloon windows and optional air conditioning. The generous cabins, quality, deep mattresses, island berths, mirrors, cedar lined wardrobes and en suites create living spaces that are relaxed and comfortable.

All new Oysters feature technology you would expect and the 565 is no exception.

Equipped with a variety of convenient and connected tech, living aboard is easier, more enjoyable and safer than ever before. From Infotainment systems, wireless sound and sophisticated mood lighting, through to optional internet, WIFI and enhanced navigation systems, the 565 delivers on technology we take for granted. The dedicated navigation station in the heart of the saloon is the technology hub, featuring a optional PC, lift-top desk; plotter; VHF radio; power management; generator control; switchboard; and plenty of power sockets. It doubles as the ideal work-aboard space and is home to the Oyster Command™ system – Oyster’s intuitive digital switching system which connects everything including entertainment, utilities, lighting and monitoring systems. It can also be accessed from the helm station and additional touchscreens can be fitted in cabins as an optional extra.

Entries open for the Oyster World Rally 2028-29. Embark on the sailing adventure of a lifetime

The joy of Oyster ownership

There is more than just pride on offer when it comes to owning an Oyster 565. Every new Oyster comes with a comprehensive warranty, personalised care, access to our global service network, unrivalled support, life-changing experiences and so much more.

On an Oyster the world is yours.

OYSTER OWNERSHIP

Ownership benefits rarely experienced in marine

Join us at our London Private View at St Katharine Docks, 24-28 April 2024, to see the Oyster 495, 565 and 595

QUICK LINKS

More information

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Specifications & features

Lloyd’s register certified deck.

The industry-leading mark of safety and build quality, giving you complete peace of mind.

Hydraulic in-mast and headsail furling

Seldén hydraulic in-mast furling (IMF) for the mainsail and a Furlex hydraulic system for the headsail fitted as standard, making easy shorthanded or singlehanded sailing a reality. Push-button controls at pedestals and beside both primary winches, deliver fingertip control.

Electric winches

Push-button control powered Lewmar primary and mainsheet winches make sail handling effortless.

Retractable hydraulic bow and stern thrusters

Powerful Sleipner Sidepower retractable bow and stern thrusters enable easy, close quarters manoeuvring.

Charges batteries and power 240v equipment on board with the standard Onan 11kw 4 cylinder diesel generator. With substantial sound proofing and anti-vibration mounts, it is whisper quiet.

B&G Navigation package

The standard B&G navigation system features the B&G NAC 3 Pilot Computer, with a Triton² keypad for autopilot control and a B&G Zeus³ 9” multifunction display at the navigation station and port pedestal, which interfaces with B&G and CZone systems.

Touch screen controls

Oyster Command™ digital switching system controls everything from on board entertainment and lighting, all your main systems, utilities and monitoring, through to touchscreens at the helm and chart table.

Extensive on deck stowage

A full width lazarette and separate sail locker provide ample storage for all your bluewater adventure kit, sails, rigging and mooring gear.

Flush teak decks

Extensive, sustainably sourced, quarter-sawn, full-depth seamed teak ensures maximum longevity of our hand-laid teak decks. Smooth and natural underfoot, they look stunning.

Opening saloon windows

Oyster’s unique deck saloon forward opening windows provide excellent ventilation, allowing fresh air to circulate freely through the yacht while at anchor or under sail.

Pushpit seats

For the best seats aboard, the optional pushpit seats provide great views and the perfect spot for sundowners after a memorable day’s cruising.

Bathing deck

The standard open stepped transom can be upgraded to accommodate a substantial, hydraulic opening bathing platform, enabling easy access to the water or tender.

Wood options

Choose from a selection of wood themed interiors, including shades of sustainable sourced standard Oak joinery, or optional Maple or Walnut, etc.

Hydraulic passerelle

Operated at the touch of a button, step ashore with ease by fitting the optional, hydraulic, retractable passerelle, mounted in the transom.

Entertainment package

Choose from a range of integrated PC, communication, internet and AV systems to suit your personal preferences.

Saloon day bed

The multifunction saloon table can be raised and lowered to create a comfortable day bed, perfect to relax on and enjoy an integrated widescreen TV.

Air conditioning

Keep the interior at the perfect temperature with air conditioning (and generator) that cools and heats. Controls in each cabin allow guests to adjust the temperature, based on their personal requirements.

B&G upgrade package

Upgrade the standard B&G navigation package with the additional instrumentation, charting and communication equipment.

Enjoy 100 litres of fresh, homemade water per hour from a reliable Dessalator watermaker, with automatic controls and manual override.

Add davits to the stern deck for a practical dingy stowage solution when cruising and fast, efficient access when exploring at your destination.

Hull colours

Personalise your Oyster 565 with alternative coloured hulls, mast and sails. See our colour picker for inspiration.

Plans and interior layouts

Colour inspiration

EXPERT OPINION

Independent reviews of the Oyster 565. Find out what the experts have to say.

The Oyster 565

Join us at our upcoming boat shows to see our stunning new generation bluewater cruisers

Configure your 565

Create your dream Oyster 565 using our yacht configurator

Oyster World Rally

Take the voyage of a lifetime.

The Oyster Fleet

Explore other models

Setting a new benchmark for 50 foot yachts.

The new Oyster 595, a 60 foot sailing yacht capable of great things.

A versatile sub 70 foot sailboat designed for the adventurous at heart.

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© 2024 OYSTER YACHTS

OYSTER WORLD RALLY

The Oyster World Rally 2028-29. Embark on the sailing adventure of a lifetime. Entries open 18 June 2024

Explore the benefits that come with taking ownership of a new Oyster, and becoming part of the family

GRAND TOURING

The new oyster 885gt revealed. watch her in action.

LUXURY CHARTER

Experience exhilarating sailing, luxury and style on an oyster charter. personal, exclusive and uniquely oyster.

Join Oyster Brokerage at the Palma International Boat Show, 25-28 April 2024. Book your tour today

Follow the Oyster World Rally 2024-25 fleet live

Winner of European Yacht of the Year 2023. She sets a new 50 foot bluewater benchmark, offering a stunning combination of sailing performance, comfort, safety and luxurious living space.

Heralding a new generation of Oysters, this 60 foot bluewater cruiser is a sailing yacht for all oceans. Practical and well-provisioned for long distance sailing or cruising in coastal waters.

The much-anticipated Oyster 595 is well-proportioned and extremely versatile. Offering exciting, customised build options with no compromise, she is capable of great things.

A versatile sub-70 foot sailboat offering the perfect balance of size and practicality. She can be sailed shorthanded effortlessly or take a full crew and up to eight friends and family.

This long range 75 foot cruising yacht is designed for very big adventures. A joy to sail yourself, she also boasts dedicated crew quarters.

Oyster 885SII

An exhilarating 90 foot sailing yacht, delivering comfort and safety with uncompromising performance. She is capable of taking you anywhere in the world effortlessly, in luxury and style.

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60' 1997 Ocean Yachts Super Sport

• Boat Name: Reel Therapy
• YW#: 81935-3715580
• Located in: Riviera Beach, FL, United States

At the time of production, the 60' Ocean was one of the fastest production boats ever built. "Reel Therapy" is the desirable 4 stateroom layout with many upgrades and professional maintenance. This 60' yacht is a must see!

Number of cabins: 4

Number of heads: 3

Master Stateroom

• Located below deck amidship
• Full Beam Walk-Around King Berth
• Cruise Air Conditioning w/ SMX Controls
• Television/ Entertainment System
• Beveled Mirror
• En Suite Private Spacious Head
• Cedar Lined Closets
• European Push Button Hardware

VIP Stateroom

• Located Below Deck Forward
• Walk-Around Queen Berth
• Over Head Cabinet Storage
• En Suite Private Head
• (2) Hanging Cedar Lined Closets

Guest Stateroom

• Located Below Deck Amidship Port
• Cross Over Berths
• Cedar Lined Locker

Captain/ Crew Quarters

• Located Below Deck Amidship Starboard
• Single Berth
• Cedar Lined Closet
• Cruise Air Conditioning
• Large L-Shaped Sofa w/ Upgraded Ostrich Material
• Upgraded Ostrich Valance
• Central Vac
• (2) Custom Bar Stools
• Entertainment Center
• Oversized TV
• Decorative Mirror
• Custom Table
• Full Tuna Tower w/ Controls
• Custom Upgraded Helm
• Glendinning Control
• Upgraded Single Lever Custom Teak Helm Chair
• EZ2CY Enclosure
• Spacious L-Lounge Seating
• Drop In Electronics Box
• ACR Remote Spotlight
• Raymarine VHF
• FVC 295 Furuno Sounder
• Standard Horizon VHF
• NEW Garmin Plotter
• Fusion Radio
• 1 Simrad Plotter
• NEW ZF Controls
• Located Main Deck to Port
• Large Stand Up Refrigerator
• Custom Teak Parque Flooring
• Large Spacious Dinette to Starboard
• Custom Corian Countertops
• Trash Compactor
• Upgraded European Push Button Hardware
• Corian Sink

Engine Room

• Twin 12 Cylinder Diesels @ 1200hp each
• (4) Fuel Tanks
• Racor Filters
• Ice Chipper
• Engine Synchronizer
• Automatic Halon System
• Bilge Blower
• Air Induction System
• Bilge Pumps
• Engine Mounts
• NEW Battery Charger
• Dripless Shafts
• Crash Valves

Electrical System

• Electrical Panel in Salon/ Easy Access
• Battery Condition Gauge
• (2) Northern Lights Generator 2016
• AC Electrical System
• DC Electrical System
• Glendinning Cable Master
• Navigation Lights
• NEW Batteries
• Fresh & Salt Water Wash Down
• Cockpit Sink
• Tackle Drawers
• Fighting Chair
• Cockpit Control
• Transom Door
• Fiberglass Covering Boards
• Bait Freezer
• Rocket Launcher
• Tackle Center
• Trolling Valve
• Tackle Locker
• LOA: 60 ft 0 in
• Beam: 17 ft 0 in
• Dry Weight: 72000 lbs

Engine/Fuel Type: Twin / Diesel

Total Power: 2400 HP

• Engine Brand: MAN
• Year Built: 1997
• Engine Model: 1200
• Engine Type: Inboard
• Engine/Fuel Type: Diesel
• Location: Port
• Engine Hours: 899
• Drive Type: Direct Drive
• Engine Power: 1200 HP

Cruising Speed: 30 knots

Maximum Speed: 35 knots

Hull Material: Fiberglass

Fresh Water Tanks: (240 Gallons)

Fuel Tanks: (1120 Gallons)

Holding Tanks: (80 Gallons)

[email protected]

(561) 762-3316

The Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

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SMOKIN JOE60' Ocean Yachts 60EB 1999

This vessel is no longer on the market.

1999 Ocean Yacht 60SS Enclosed Bridge. Lots of updates and upgrades with the current owners. Twin CAT 3412c 1350hp each. Updated electronics, Interior, New Veem high performance 4 Blade Props, New Bow thruster. One engine rebuilt with low hours and other CAT Services completed. 15' Novurania tender w/30hp on bow is included. New CAT Electronic controls 6/2022.

MUST SELL..PRICE REDUCED FOR A QUICK SALE! 

Specifications

• Price USD: $ 345,000

Ocean Yachts

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

Power Yacht

• LOA: 60 ft 0 in
• Display Length: 60 ft

Convertible Boats

• Water Capacity: 240 gals
• Fuel Capacity: 1140 gals
• Engine Details: Caterpillar 3412C
• Engine 1: 1350.00 HP
• Engine 2: 1350.00 HP
• Engine Fuel: Diesel
• Days on Market: INQUIRE

+ Services and Upgrades 2017-2021

2 New Garmin GPS units 

2 New Icom VHF Radios 

Update TVs Trac Vision M  4 receivers

3 underwater lights multi color

2 Garmin Cameras 

New headliners solar blinds and boarders 

New Bow Rails 

New hot water heater 

2 of the heads rebuilt   

Port engine rebuilt July-Sept

Starboard engine 1000hr service 

New interior composite wood floors 

Upgraded LED lighting throughout the cabins   

New simrad AP 

New fusion stereo 

New Veem 4 blade props 

August New Non skid paint on HT and windows recauked 

New CAT digital display 

New bow thruster 

New salon AC compressor Dec 

Starboard new strut Shafts removed and alignment done 

New cutlass bearings 

Hull Bottom sanded and new sea hawk cucote anti foul and prop speed applied

New bonding system   

New Caterpillar Electronic engine controls 

New batteries and cables and switches 

New Air horns 

New wiper motor  

+ Disclaimer

The company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change or withdrawal without notice.

Not all boats listed online are listed with United, but we can work on your behalf. For more information on this vessel or to schedule a showing, please contact a United Yacht Sales broker by calling our main headquarters at (772) 463-3131.

Interested In This Yacht?

Contact to learn more!

SELL YOUR YACHT WITH UNITED

United is the largest professional yacht brokerage firm in the world with over 200 yacht brokers in our network. By listing your boat or yacht for sale with us, all of our team are immediately notified of your boat and begin working to match your yacht with a buyer. We have many examples where boats have sold through our network and our proprietary broker forum that keeps our team connected 24/7. With hundreds of closings every year, there is no better team than United to help with the listing and sale of your vessel. Find out what your current yacht is worth on today's market!

BUY A YACHT WITH THE UNITED TEAM

The yacht MLS consists of thousands of available brokerage vessels from all over the world and in different conditions. Hiring an experienced yacht broker to help you find the perfect boat makes financial sense, as well as takes the stress out of the process. A United broker starts by listening to your needs, how you plan to use your boat, your potential boating locations, and your budget. We then go to work looking at all of the available yachts that fit your criteria, research their history, provide you with a clear picture of the market, and organizes the showings. We're with you every step of the way from survey to acceptance and our industry-leading support staff will make sure your closing goes smoothly.

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60′ Yachts for Sale

Find the perfect 60 feet yachts for sale.

Our website features plenty of 60′ boats all around the world, discover the perfect yacht closer to you!

Experience the epitome of nautical craftsmanship with FGI Yacht Group’s distinguished collection of 60′ yachts for sale. Each vessel in our repertoire is a seamless fusion of advanced engineering, unparalleled luxury, and meticulous design. Tailored to meet the diverse preferences of our discerning clientele, these 60-foot yachts strike a perfect balance between spacious opulence and maritime performance. Sophisticated interiors, cutting-edge amenities, and exceptional seaworthiness characterize our offerings, ensuring that each journey is steeped in comfort and reliability. Explore our curated selection and allow FGI Yacht Group to guide you towards a distinguished seafaring experience befitting your aspirations.

GALATHEA 65

OFF THE GRID

T/T ARTHUR'S WAY

THIS LITTLE PIGGY

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Used Yachts For Sale From 51 To 60 Feet

Listed below are used yachts for sale worldwide from 51 To 60 feet. Use the search tools to narrow your exploration. SYS Yacht Sales offers a wide range of used yachts for sale, including long range cruisers, motor yachts, trawlers, sportfish yachts, flybridge yachts, sailboats and everything in between. Search top brands like Azimut, Hatteras, Princess, Sea Ray, Prestige, Grand Banks, Riviera and much more. Need assistance? Contact our experienced yacht brokers. We look forward to helping you find the yacht that's right for you.

Seanfinity T6

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Apreamare 60

Princess S60

Chameleon ii.

Princess 60 Flybridge

Miller Marine 60 Sportfish

Cat-n-round.

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Chasing our tails.

• Event Details

How a cargo ship took down Baltimore’s Key Bridge

To bridge experts, the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after being hit by a heavy cargo ship was as inevitable as it was devastating.

When a vessel as heavy as the Singapore-flagged Dali crashes with such force into one of the span’s supercolumns, or piers, the result is the type of catastrophic, and heartbreaking, chain reaction that took place early Tuesday.

“If the column is destroyed, basically the structure will fall down,” said Dan Frangopol, a bridge engineering and risk professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania who is president of the International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety. “It’s not possible to redistribute the loads. It was not designed for these things.”

No bridge pier could withstand being hit by a ship the size of the Dali, said Benjamin W. Schafer, a professor of civil and systems engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

“These container ships are so huge,” Schafer said. “That main span has two supports. You can’t take one away.” He called the accident “a huge infrastructure failure,” but not because of the bridge collapse; he said the shipping industry needs systems to keep a ship on track when it loses power, as the Dali did before the collision.

The bridge itself, which carried more than 30,000 vehicles daily, appeared to be structurally sound. Its condition was rated fair, according to data in the 2023 National Bridge Inventory maintained by the Federal Highway Administration. Maryland state officials said they were focused on search-and-rescue operations and did not provide later inspection data. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said excavating detailed inspection history information — and what was done in response to any earlier findings — will be a cumbersome and protracted part of the agency’s investigation.

But bridge safety and engineering experts are emphasizing a separate issue: protective barriers.

When the span opened to traffic in 1977, many ships were smaller and the standards for protecting bridges against them were lower, they said.

A few years later, a Liberian cargo ship crashed into a bridge in Florida , sending a Greyhound bus, a pickup truck and six cars into the Tampa Bay and killing 35 people, according to the NTSB. That deadly 1980 collision helped lead to the adoption of stronger national standards for bridges, including protection from errant ships, in the years that followed, safety experts said.

Sherif El-Tawil, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of Michigan with expertise in bridges, said if the Key Bridge had been built after those updated standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials were put in place, the span could still be standing.

“I believe it would have survived,” El-Tawil said.

Maryland officials did not answer questions Tuesday about what protective devices were in place near the bridge and whether they were sufficient to withstand this type of collision.

Two examples of protective measures that did not appear to have been in place, El-Tawil said, were large fenders designed to direct marine traffic away from the bridge supports and an island built around the pier.

Some states are building these kinds of protection systems around vital bridges. Last year, officials from a joint New Jersey and Delaware bridge authority announced work on eight 80-foot-wide, stone-filled cylinders designed to protect the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The existing protection for the bridge tower piers dates to 1951. “Today’s tankers and ships are bigger and faster than those of the 1950s and 1960s,” the officials said in announcing the nearly $93 million project.

State departments of transportation “are aware of the shortcomings of these bridges,” said Roberto T. Leon, a bridge and structural engineering professor at Virginia Tech. “It’s not that they don’t know. It’s a matter of prioritizing the repairs. It is a very expensive proposition to protect a bridge.”

Ian Firth, a British structural engineer and bridge designer, said he was “not surprised” at how quickly the bridge came down after it was hit. He noted that the support structure that was struck, which would have been made of reinforced concrete, was one of two main supports responsible for doing “all the work” to hold up the bridge.

He said the ship appeared to have strayed to one side before striking the bridge.

The bridge collapse, like other calamities, is probably the result of overlapping low-probability failures, said Edward Tenner, a historian and expert on disasters — akin to what happens when, by chance, the holes in a stack of Swiss cheese slices line up perfectly.

“This might have been a case where there were just an unlikely series of failures,” said Tenner, author of “Why Things Bite Back,” a book about technology and its unanticipated consequences. But he added, “I suspect there was something about the equipment of a huge ship like that, given the potential for damage like this, there should have been more redundancy. There shouldn’t have been one point of failure that could lead to a catastrophe.”

Speaking Tuesday afternoon in Baltimore, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the accident “a unique circumstance,” adding, “I do not know of a bridge that has been constructed to withstand a direct impact from a vessel of this size.”

The ship was towed into the Patapsco River initially, but the tugboats did not accompany the ship all the way to the bridge, said John Konrad, a retired ship captain who runs the gCaptain maritime news website and co-authored a book on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill .

“The safe thing to do is keep the tugs,” Konrad said. “Moving forward, I think that’s going to happen. The Coast Guard is going to say you’ve got to keep the tugs tied up until you pass the bridge.”

In video imagery, the ship can be seen losing electrical power, then briefly regaining it before going completely dark. The ship then veers to the right, directly toward the bridge’s structural support.

The rudder may have gotten stuck in a position that caused the ship to turn, said a senior retired maritime official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity while waiting for more details on the incident. It’s also possible that an incoming tide could have been a factor, he said.

“Obviously, they could not control the ship. They could not stop the ship,” he said.

A deficiency in the Dali’s systems was discovered when the ship was inspected in June, records show. Inspectors at the port of San Antonio, Chile, discovered a problem categorized as relating to “propulsion and auxiliary machinery,” according to the Tokyo MOU, an intergovernmental shipping regulator in the Asia-Pacific region. The issue was classified in the subcategory of “Gauges, thermometers, etc,” but no additional details of the deficiency were provided. The problem was not serious enough to warrant detaining the ship, according to the records.

After a follow-up inspection later the same day, the Dali was found to have no outstanding deficiencies, the records show, indicating that the problem was addressed.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said at a news conference Tuesday that the Dali lost power and issued an emergency call for help shortly before the freighter crashed into the bridge. The “mayday” distress call allowed officials to halt vehicle traffic headed over the bridge and saved lives, Moore said.

Erin Cox, Tom Jackman, Jon Swaine, Joyce Lee and Mark Johnson contributed to this report.

An earlier version of this article misstated the title of Edward Tenner's book. It is "Why Things Bite Back." This version has been corrected.

Baltimore bridge collapse

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship , sending at least eight people from a construction crew into the water. Follow live updates and see photos from the scene .

How it happened: The container ship lost power shortly before hitting the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said. Video shows the bridge collapse in under 40 seconds.

Victims: Divers recovered the bodies of two construction workers who died , while finding other vehicles trapped and probably containing the other victims, officials said. They were fathers, husbands and hard workers . The entire crew aboard the container ship Dali survived . First responders shut down most traffic on the four-lane bridge after the crew issued an urgent mayday call. It saved lives, Moore said.

Economic impact: The collapse of the bridge, which severed ocean links to the Port of Baltimore, adds a fresh headache to already struggling global supply chains . See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods .

History: The Key Bridge was built in the 1970s and spanned the Patapsco River. Rebuilding the bridge will probably take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, experts said.