moore 30 sailboat

The Moore 30 is a 30.0ft fractional sloop designed by Gary Mull and built in fiberglass by Moore Sailboats since 1985.

5 units have been built..

The Moore 30 is an ultralight sailboat which is a very high performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a racing boat.

Moore 30 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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• Sailboat Guide

Moore 30 is a 29 ′ 11 ″ / 9.1 m monohull sailboat designed by Gary Mull and built by Moore Sailboats starting in 1985.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

The 14’ beam includes this yachts hiking ‘wings’. A photo has been promised.

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The Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore collapses, 6 feared dead

Jonathan Franklin

Jason Breslow

Rachel Treisman

Ayana Archie

In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images hide caption

In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday.

At least six people are presumed dead following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, officials said.

The bridge fell into the Patapsco River after it was struck by a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship, sending several people plunging into the frigid waters below.

During a news update Tuesday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard told reporters they are ending an active search and rescue operation for the six people left unaccounted for at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said that based on the length of time since the bridge collapsed and the water temperatures, they don't believe that search teams are going to find any of these individuals still alive.

Gilreath told reporters that the Coast Guard is not leaving, but is going to "transition to a different phase."

The recovery phase will begin at 6 a.m. local time Wednesday when divers will begin searching for remains of all missing victims, Gilreath said.

Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., Secretary of Maryland State Police, told reporters the conditions have changed and made it dangerous for first responders and divers to be in the water.

The Picture Show

Photos: baltimore's key bridge collapses; search and rescue efforts continue.

He emphasized that police will still have surface ships out in the water overnight.

"We're hoping to put those divers in the water and begin a more detailed search to do our very best to recover those six missing people," Butler said.

The collision set off a rapid search-and-rescue operation. Eight people from a construction crew that was working to repair potholes on the bridge are thought to have fallen into the water, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told reporters.

Authorities did not believe any drivers were submerged in their cars, Wiedefeld said.

The bridge collapsed instantly

Eyepress/Reuters

The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, collapsed around 1:30 a.m. when it was struck by a massive cargo vessel named the Dali. Dramatic video of the collision shows the hulking ship–the length of more than three football fields– slamming into one of the bridge's pillars, and then an expanse of the bridge falling into the water instantly.

The Dali, a Singapore-flagged ship, had left Baltimore at 1 a.m. and was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to Marine Traffic , a maritime data site.

Synergy Marine Group, the company that manages the ship, said in a statement that all 22 crew members are accounted for and that there were no injuries resulting from the crash. The company also said there was no pollution to the water.

In a briefing for the media, Moore said the crew of the container ship had notified authorities about a power outage onboard shortly before the collision. The crew notified authorities of "a power issue," Moore said, confirming earlier reports that they had lost power on the ship.

The ship was traveling at approximately 8 knots when it hit the bridge, Moore said. In the immediate aftermath of the collision, officials feared motorists might be submerged in the river, but Moore said that a mayday signal was issued with enough time for authorities to stop the flow of traffic coming over the bridge.

A collapsed section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is seen in the waters of the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot-long cargo ship. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

A collapsed section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is seen in the waters of the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot-long cargo ship.

"I have to say I'm thankful for the folks who once the warning came up, and once notification came up that there was a mayday, who literally by being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives," Moore said.

FBI and state officials said the preliminary investigation points to an accident and that there was no credible evidence of any terrorist attack. Moore said the Francis Scott Key Bridge was fully up to code and there was no structural issue with the bridge.

"In fact, the bridge was actually fully up to code," Moore said.

The ship has had at least one previous accident

Vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest on the East Coast, was suspended "until further notice," port officials announced, as search-and-rescue operations continued and the preliminary investigation into the crash was getting underway.

"This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is closed," port officials said in a statement. "Trucks are being processed within our marine terminals."

Gov. Moore declared a state of emergency and said his office was in close communication with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The secretary was due to arrive in Baltimore to visit the crash site and receive updates on the investigation.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, speaks during a news conference as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) looks on near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Steve Ruark/AP hide caption

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, speaks during a news conference as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) looks on near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate what happened, announcing on X (formerly Twitter) that it was launching a "go team" to Baltimore.

Prior to the crash, the ship had completed 27 inspections, according to a database by the maritime safety site Equasis. In one inspection at a port in Chile last year, the ship was determined to have a deficiency related to "propulsion and auxiliary machinery," according to Equasis.

In 2016, an inspection found "hull damage impairing sea worthiness" after the ship hit a dock on its way out of the port of Antwerp. Video of the incident shows the stern of the ship scraping against the quay as it attempted to exit the North Sea container terminal.

The bridge is an important travel route with a deep history

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board listen to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speak during a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board listen to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speak during a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

The bridge's collapse leaves Baltimore and travelers along the East Coast without a vital transit corridor for the foreseeable future. The four-lane, 1.6-mile-long bridge carries some 11.3 million vehicles each year, according to state data, and is one of three ways to get through Baltimore on the interstate.

Reconstructing the bridge will be a "long-term build," Moore told reporters.

Speaking from the White House, President Biden said he intends for the federal government to "pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge."

"We're gonna get it up and running again as soon as possible," Biden said. "Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we're gonna do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers."

The bridge isn't just a vital transportation route. It also has a special historical significance.

It opened to the public in March 1977, but its history goes much deeper than that. Scholars believe it stood within 100 yards of the site where its namesake, Francis Scott Key, witnessed the failed British bombardment of Fort McHenry in September 1814.

Key, an American lawyer, watched the battle from the British warship he had boarded to negotiate the release of a detained American civilian. The awe he felt at seeing the flag rise the next morning inspired him to write "Defense of Fort McHenry," which was later renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and became the U.S. national anthem in 1931.

Shippers are scrambling to re-route their cargo

Roughly $80 billion worth of cargo passes through the Port of Baltimore each year. But with the port's shipping channels now closed indefinitely due to the accident, shippers have been left scrambling to find alternate routes to transport their goods to and from the East Coast.

Some vessels have already been diverted to Norfolk, Va., Margie Shapiro, who runs a freight handling business in Baltimore, told NPR . Other traffic could be re-routed through New York or Philadelphia.

The Dali was being chartered by Maersk and carrying cargo for Maersk customers, the shipping giant said in a statement . The company said it would be omitting Baltimore from its services "until it is deemed safe for passage through this area."

Cargo already at the Port of Baltimore will have to travel overland, but truck traffic will also be snarled by the loss of the bridge.

"The whole ecosystem is going to be a little bit off," Shapiro said. "When the ecosystem gets messy, things get messy. Freight rates go up. The world gets a little bit chaotic."

NPR's Dave Mistich and Scott Horsley contributed to this report.

• francis scott key

Advertisement

How the Key Bridge Collapsed in Baltimore: Maps and Photos

By Weiyi Cai ,  Agnes Chang ,  Lauren Leatherby ,  Lazaro Gamio ,  Leanne Abraham and Scott Reinhard

On Tuesday, a major bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the water seconds after it was struck by a cargo ship, sending vehicles on the bridge into the river below. The ship lost power and issued a mayday call shortly before it hit the bridge.

The ship, a 948-foot-long cargo vessel called Dali, was about a half hour into its journey toward Colombo, Sri Lanka, when it hit a main pillar of the bridge. All crew members are safe, according to the ship’s owners.

Follow our live coverage .

A mayday call from the ship gave officials enough time to stop traffic at both ends of the bridge. The waters where the bridge collapsed are about 50 feet deep. By Tuesday morning, six construction workers who had been fixing potholes on the bridge remained missing as divers and other emergency workers on boats and helicopters continued to search for them. Two others had been rescued, and one was in the hospital.

Francis Scott

Patapsco River

The ship left the Port

of Baltimore around

1 a.m. on Tuesday.

Where impact occurred

Direction of the ship

The ship hit the

bridge at 1:28 a.m.

The ship hit the bridge at 1:28 a.m.

Where impact

Source: Spire Global

The New York Times; satellite image by Google Earth

The lights of the ship flickered on and off as it lost power in the minutes before the ship changed bearing and hit the bridge.

Ship approached from

the Port of Baltimore

Road repair crews

Ship changed heading

as it neared pillar

Ship hit pillar

Southern and central spans

of bridge began to collapse within

seconds of impact

Northern span began to

collapse seconds later

Within 30 seconds of impact,

the central part of bridge had

entirely collapsed.

Source: StreamTime Live via YouTube

Timestamps are from StreamTime Live video.

The New York Times

The Francis Scott Key Bridge was opened in 1977 and carried more than 12.4 million vehicles last year. The bridge was one of the three major ways to cross the Patapsco River and formed part of Baltimore’s beltway.

The Port of Baltimore is a major trade hub that handled a record amount of foreign cargo last year. It is an especially important destination — the nation’s largest by volume last year — for deliveries of cars and light trucks.

Ship impact

To Chesapeake Bay

Sources: Maryland Port Administration, OpenStreetMap, MarineTraffic

Note: Ship positions are as of 2:46 p.m. Eastern time.

Overall, Baltimore was the 17th biggest port in the United States in 2021, ranked by total tons, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The bridge collapse brought marine traffic there to a standstill, with seven cargo or tanker ships stranded in the harbor as of Tuesday afternoon.

Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency for Maryland and said that his office was in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. transportation secretary. The White House issued a statement saying that President Biden had been briefed on the collapse.

Erin Schaff/The New York Times

• Share full article

Published on September 24th, 2020 | by Editor

Moore 33: New chapter for slippery boatsA

Published on September 24th, 2020 by Editor -->

Located in central California, Santa Cruz is known for its moderate climate, natural environment, coastline, redwood forests, alternative community lifestyles, and socially liberal leanings. But in the sailing world, it is also known for building fast boats.

Case in point is the Moore 24 designed by local surfer/sailor George Olson, which was one of the first ultralight displacement sailboats, entering production in 1972. This boat was seriously slippery, and now nearly 50 years later it will have a bigger sibling… here’s the announcement:

Sailboat construction icon Ron Moore is joining forces with Yachtsman and Businessman Blaine Rorick and CFO Samuel Willner to form Moore Sailboats Inc., a new entity which will produce the all new Alan Andrews-designed Moore 33.

Andrews name is synonymous with a multitude of record-setting and race-winning ULDB sleds like Locomotion, It’s OK, Cheval, Alchemy, to modern TP 52’s and last year’s Cabo winner Fast Exit; but he started his iconic career with a 30-footer and has since designed a wide range of racers and cruisers.

Andrews’ design skills in combination with Moore’s renowned manufacturing expertise will deliver exactly what sailing needs now – a high-quality, mid-sized racer that exudes the designer’s signature graceful lines and elegant style but is just as focused on performance and speed.

The trailerable – yes, trailerable – sloop will be offered with options tailored for distance racing with a four-person crew or for buoy, day, or coastal racing with a crew of up to seven or eight. Hull numbers one and two are scheduled for release in February 2021.

Earlier this year, Rorick, a long-time competitive sailor and former yacht broker, met Andrews to see if a vintage Moore 30 could be modified for offshore racing. That boat, so far ahead of its time, baffled PHRF rating officials who would not let it race.

By the end of the initial meeting, the concept to build the Moore 33 was born. “It’s going to be screaming fast, capable of hitting speeds in the 20-knot range; long-distance capable but just as competitive in buoy and class racing competitions,” said Rorick. The Moore 33 can be configured to meet US SER requirements for offshore racing with key features planned for one-design, PHRF, and measurement-rule racing.

Andrews likened it to a production sports car with all the latest technology; with a strong but light, quality-constructed hull capable of maximum designed speed. The Moore 33’s beamier blueprint is in keeping with modern hull shapes (unlike earlier ULDBs that were long and lean) that increase power to carry sail, enhance planing, and overall performance.

“It’s a pretty cool boat; great for taking on long-distance or point-to-point races – then returning in the evening and trailering home,” Andrews said. “New sail technology in a square-top mainsail adds another dimension of innovation and mixes things up.”

For ease of trailering, Andrews has designed a retractable keel and with a displacement of 3,750 pounds; the light boat should be launchable from most yacht club hoists.

Important to the concept is the appeal to an inclusive market of sailors; those moving up and those who want to downsize; reducing overhead and slip fees without diminishing the intensity of competition. Reducing maintenance costs also add to the affordability and versatility of the boat in hopes of broadening its appeal beyond its good looks.

“The drawings are gorgeous!” said Moore. “The design and planning part is the most fun, but I’m looking forward to the construction; sculpting the molds, the interiors, keel, and the rudder. This is one gorgeous piece of high-performance art.”

A history of innovation and quality Moore is best known for his still popular Moore 24 that launched 45 years ago. The still active Moore 24 Class; a testament to the success of any boat brand, will be racing at 18 racing venues this calendar year.

While the Moore 24s sailed, the craftsman has spent the last 25 years on the fabrication of custom boats such as the Antrium 30+ Trimaran, composite bridge fabrications, stealth powerboats for the US Navy, R & D for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space and built astronomical/scientific enclosures delivered worldwide.

Most recently, he has gained a working relationship with marine laboratories on the California Central Coast and the local Moss Landing fishing fleet.

“I’m so excited to build an assembly project from concept,” he said. Phase one of tooling, creating the mold and initial fabrication will commence this month.

The second phase of tooling includes attaching the interior. The composite modules bond to the shell and are forged with aircraft-quality fiberglass lamination. Then Moore conducts the precision finishing. “It’s going to be a sexy Italian-inspired hotrod!” he said. But he also believes it will appeal to a lot of boat buyers. “It’s a solid proposal; great quality for the price point.”

The secret to developing his reputation as an iconic builder is that extra 10% that the independent manufacturer puts into every project. “It’s the artist’s passion — high-quality work takes more time,” he said. Today’s modern, beautiful composite construction, spray gel overcoating, new fabrics and improved resins, set new standards, and keeps Moore engaged; his creative RPMs up for taking on new projects.

After launching the first two, the plan is to manufacturer one boat per month. When ramped up, the Watsonville facility will be capable of producing a boat per week.

A history of success Andrews’ first commission was a 30-foot race boat in 1982 which won its class and the MORC Internationals that year. He’s also responsible for two versions the prized Governor’s Cup Fleet used in Balboa Yacht Club’s signature youth match racing regatta.

After the first meeting, Andrews said Rorick’s directives were to design the smallest boat that could competitively and reasonably race to Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, or Hawaii, while being fun, fast, and easy to sail. “I take reasonable with a grain of salt,” he said.

After rolling off the line in February, Rorick’s goal is to have the boat, complete with a competitive team of sailors, ready for the 2021 race and boat show season. For those who want to be first to reserve their hull numbers, the company will be taking deposits for pre-production orders at the end of the month.

Additional information: https://moore33.com/

Tags: Alan Andrews , Industry , Moore 33

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Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after being struck by cargo ship; 6 people presumed dead, officials say

By Brian Dakss , Kerry Breen , S. Dev

Updated on: March 26, 2024 / 8:00 PM EDT / CBS News

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday  after a support column was hit by a large container ship that had lost power, sending vehicles and people into the Patapsco River, authorities said.

Six people remain missing and are presumed dead, Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the U.S. Coast Guard said at a news conference Tuesday evening. Two other people were rescued from the water. 

All eight people were part of a construction crew that was filling potholes on the bridge at the time, Wiedefeld said. Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the National Transportation Security Board, said Tuesday afternoon that the workers were employed by local company Brawner Builders. 

One of the rescued workers was unhurt. The other was treated at the University of Maryland Medical Center and has been discharged, CBS Baltimore station WJZ reported. 

At 7:30 p.m. ET, search and rescue operations were suspended as officials transitioned to recovery efforts.

"Based on the length of time that we've gone in this search, the extensive search efforts that we've put into it, the water temperature — that at this point we do not believe that we're going to find any of these individuals still alive," Gilreath said.

Col. Roland Butler Jr. with Maryland State Police said conditions in the water, including changing currents, low visibility and sharp metal objects made it dangerous for divers and first responders. 

Divers will begin recovery operations at 6 a.m. ET Wednesday, Butler Jr. said, adding that officials currently do not know where the victims are located.

Guatemala's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said two of the missing workers were from Guatemala. One of the workers was 26 years old and the other was 35 years old, according to the ministry. The state's consul general was on site assisting the affected families. 

"We are still actively looking for survivors," Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said earlier, at a Tuesday afternoon news conference. "There is not a single resource we will hold off on deploying ... to make sure that this search and rescue operation is carried out to its fullest intent." 

Rep. David Trone of Maryland told CBS News that recovery efforts will likely be conducted by underwater drones . Trone said that the drones will be able to locate the cars, and that authorities have identified one car in particular that likely has casualties.

Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, told The Associated Press that the construction crew was working in the middle of the bridge's span when the crash happened. 

"This was so completely unforeseen," Pritzker said. "We don't know what else to say."

"We take such great pride in safety, and we have cones and signs and lights and barriers and flaggers," he added. "But we never foresaw that the bridge would collapse."

Moore declared a state of emergency shortly after the collapse, saying in a statement that "we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration. We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety."

The ship — the Singapore-flagged Dali — was operated by charter vessel company Synergy Marine Group and was chartered by Maersk, carrying Maersk customers' cargo, the companies said. 

There were 22 crew members, including two pilots, aboard the ship, according to a statement from Synergy. All 22 crew members are Indian nationals. Synergy said it had activated its incident response team and is cooperating with state and federal officials. Homendy said that the NTSB is communicating with Singaporean officials as part of their investigation. 

Wiedefeld said that the FBI was on the scene "to see if there was any terrorism connection, which there is not." 

William DelBagno, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore field office, said at a subsequent news conference that "there is no specific or credible information to suggest that there are ties to terrorism in this incident." 

An FBI official told CBS News that FBI dive teams had joined in the search for the missing and that the FBI underwater search and evidence response team was actively in the water. The FBI has also sent a victim specialist to assist families impacted by the incident. 

The NTSB said Tuesday morning that it had dispatched a 24-person team to investigate the incident. The team was waiting to board the ship to allow search and rescue operations to continue, and hopes to access recordings from the ship tonight or tomorrow, Homendy said.  

Ship had a "power issue" before the collision

Officials have confirmed that the ship lost power right before the collision. Moore said that the crew notified authorities of a "power issue." 

Two U.S. officials told CBS News that multiple alarms rang out on the ship, alerting pilots and crew to an issue on board. The crew ran several system tests to attempt to remedy the loss of propulsion from the motor, but the tests proved unsuccessful. At that point, the pilot alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transit Authority. 

Roughly two minutes elapsed between when the ship's pilot notified state authorities of an issue on board and when the bridge collapsed, Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski said.

Officials said in a news conference that the call allowed officials to order a mayday and stop traffic onto the bridge.

Moore said that the decision to stop traffic onto the bridge "saved lives last night." Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told CBS News that the mayday call "saved many lives" and allowed emergency personnel to get to the scene quickly.  

Officials did not clarify how many vehicles were on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Infrared video showed that vehicles did enter the water, but it's not clear if those vehicles had occupants. Multiple vehicles remained in the river as of mid-morning. 

Homendy said it was too early in the investigation to clarify an exact timeline of events for the accident. 

The ship's crew made an effort to deploy the anchor, though it remains unclear how much progress was made, multiple officials said.

"If it lost steering and power, then basically it's a dead ship just being carried by the current or its own momentum," James Mercante, the president of the New York Board of Pilot Commissioners, told CBS News.

He said that video shows a "big, big puff of black, real dark black smoke" which might indicate that the vessel's power was "restored at the last minute" and that the pilot was "attempting to make an emergency maneuver" to prevent the collision. However, it would be difficult to stop the 900-foot-long vessel. 

"It would take quite a while — probably the length of five [or] six football fields — to bring that ship to a stop, even after dropping the anchors, because of its power and momentum. This is a behemoth," Mercante said. 

"An unthinkable tragedy"

The Baltimore mayor headed to the scene and told reporters at a morning briefing that  the collapse was "an unthinkable tragedy."

"We have to first and foremost pray for all of those who are impacted, those families, pray for our first responders and thank them," Scott said.

A witness  told CBS News Baltimore  the sound of the collapse was massive, shaking his home. 

"Earthquake — sounded like a big bash of thunder," the resident said. "And then just like I said it felt like an earthquake, the whole house vibrated. Like my house was falling down."

The man said he never thought in his "wildest dreams" he would see something like this happen. 

Shipping in and out of the Port of Baltimore has been halted. Moore said that it was too early to estimate how long it would take to rebuild the bridge or for shipping to resume. 

"Our exclusive focus is on saving lives. Our exclusive focus is on search and rescue," he said. 

Location of the Key Bridge in Baltimore

The Francis Scott Key Bridge spans the Patapsco River, a key waterway that serves with the Port of Baltimore as a hub for East Coast shipping. 

CBS News Baltimore reports that the 1.6-mile span was used by some 31,000 people per day and carried 11.5 million vehicles annually.

The Maryland Transportation Authority  said  all lanes were closed in both directions on I-695.  Traffic was being detoured to I-95 and I-895.

All ship traffic at the port, the second-largest seaport in the mid-Atlantic region, has been halted. According to Census data, the Port of Baltimore handled more than $80 billion in imports and exports in 2023, marking a 20-year record. 

The bridge, which opened in 1977, is named after the writer of "The Star-Spangled Banner." 

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on social media that he's "spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT's support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response."

—Pat Milton, Nicole Sganga and other CBS News and CBS News Baltimore staff members contributed reporting.

More from CBS News

Maps and video show site of bridge collapse in Baltimore

What to know about the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore

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• International

Baltimore bridge collapse

RFK Jr. announces VP pick

Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision

By Helen Regan , Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Rachel Ramirez , Elise Hammond , Aditi Sangal , Tori B. Powell and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn, CNN

Ship suffered a total blackout before the collision with bridge, pilot association official says

From CNN's Yahya Abou-Ghazala

The pilot of the ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge Tuesday did “everything that he could have done” to slow the ship and keep it from drifting toward the bridge, said Clay Diamond, executive director and general counsel of the American Pilots Association.

Diamond has been in close communication with the Association of Maryland Pilots over what unfolded on the Dali cargo ship in the moments leading up to the crash. 

 “Just minutes before the bridge, there was a total blackout on the ship, meaning that the ship lost engine power and electrical power, it was a complete blackout,” Diamond told CNN. 

At that point, according to Diamond, the pilot did “everything that he could have done” to both slow the ship down and keep it from drifting to the right, toward the bridge.

The pilot quickly gave a string of orders, calling for a hard rudder to port – as far left as possible -- and for the anchor to be dropped.

Additionally, Diamond said, the pilot was the one who contacted the pilot dispatch office to shut down traffic to the bridge. 

“Those were all the appropriate steps but it happened so quickly and with so little lead time ... neither one of those maneuvers were enough,” said Diamond. 

Diamond pointed out that while the lights on the boat could be seen turning back on – likely due to an emergency generator activating after the initial blackout -- the ship’s engines never got running again. 

Pilot training programs are extensive and rigorous, according to Diamond, requiring years of experience navigating ships on the water, classroom simulations, and working under the supervision of licensed pilots. 

Authorities will make their "best effort" to recover the missing people to help families find closure, official says

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Recovery efforts will be focused to find the missing people to provide closure to their families, said Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., secretary of Maryland State Police.

"At this point, we do not know where they are. But we intend to give it our best effort to help these families find closure," he said at a news briefing on Tuesday evening.

Conditions have made it dangerous for first responders and divers to be in the water, official says

Conditions have changed and made it dangerous for first responders and divers to be in the water around the collapsed Baltimore bridge, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., secretary of Maryland State Police, said at a news briefing on Tuesday.

This comes as authorities announced they're moving from a search-and-rescue operation to a recovery phase for the missing people.

"The changing conditions out there have made it dangerous for the first responders, the divers in the water," he explained. "We will still have surface ships out overnight."

Elaborating on the changing conditions, he said: "The last thing we want to do is put divers in the water with changing currents, low temperatures, very poor visibility, and so much metal and other an unknown objects in the water. All it takes is one object to strike an individual and all of a sudden we have a first responder trying to recover another first responder."

He said divers are expected to be back in the water at 6 a.m. ET on Wednesday when "we'll find ourselves in a better position to understand the dynamics of what we're dealing with, and to address the issues in a much safer manner."

The post was updated with more details on Butler's remarks.

Authorities only have information on 6 missing individuals, Coast Guard says

From CNN's Tori B. Powell

The Coast Guard is only aware of six missing individuals following the bridge collapse in Baltimore harbor, Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said at a Tuesday news conference.

No information to support that there were additional vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed

From CNN's Elise Hammond

A Maryland law enforcement official said while there is a "distinct possibility" that there could have been more vehicles on the bridge when it collapsed, they have not found any evidence to support that.

"As unfortunate as it may be, it's a distinct possibility. However, we don't have any information to support that at this point," Maryland State Police Secretary Col. Roland L. Butler Jr. said.

Authorities have been able to find three passenger vehicles , a cement truck and a fifth vehicle submerged in the water using infrared and  side-scan sonar technology , Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace previously told CNN.

Radio traffic captured how authorities stopped traffic and worked to clear the bridge seconds before the impact.

Divers from various state and local agencies brought in to help with search

From CNN's Piper Hudspeth Blackburn

Dive teams from various state and local agencies were brought in to assist in the search-and-recover operation after the collapse of the Baltimore bridge, Maryland State Police Secretary Col. Roland L. Butler Jr. said at a news conference.

Sonar was also used as part of the search and rescue operation, he added.

"From the outset, we’ve moved all those resources in,” Butler explained. “We’re doing our best in some very difficult times and difficult conditions.” 

The headline has been updated on this post.

Coast Guard is suspending its active search

The Coast Guard is ending its active search and rescue operation for the six unaccounted people who were on the Francis Scott Key Bridge when it collapsed.

Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said that based on the length of time since the bridge collapsed and the water temperatures "we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals still alive."

The bridge collapsed at around 1:30 a.m. ET after a container ship hit the pillar. The active search-and-rescue efforts were suspended around 7:30 p.m. ET, Gilreath said.

Gilreath emphasized the Coast Guard is not leaving, but said it is “just going to transition to a different phase.”

The path to rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge will be "long and expensive," Maryland senator says

From CNN's Sarah Engel 

US Sen. Chris Van Hollen described Tuesday as a "tragic day" in Baltimore during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Tuesday evening. 

Van Hollen praised workers who stopped traffic after receiving the ship's mayday signal.

"The effort goes on to search for those who are missing," Van Hollen said , but added "the immediate issue besides the search and rescue is opening up that channel."

"I understand there are about four ships in the port that can't get out, I understand there were about 20 ships that were waiting to come in," Van Hollen said. 

Van Hollen said there are thousands of workers employed at the Port of Baltimore, and "tens of thousands more depend on what is one of the most vibrant ports in the country, the biggest port for automobiles."

According to Van Hollen, Maryland plans to access the Emergency Relief Fund within the Federal Highway Administration, though that won't be enough to rebuild the bridge — "That will be long and expensive," Van Hollen said.  

Van Hollen said he is in communication with his Senate colleagues and plans to work with the House on relief efforts.

6 presumed dead after bridge collapse, the Baltimore Sun reports  

From CNN's Michelle Watson and Danny Freeman 

At least six people are presumed dead following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse Tuesday in Baltimore, according to reporting from  The Baltimore Sun .

Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders called the news “a terrible, terrible, unforeseen tragedy.”

Two people were pulled from the Patapsco River, the Baltimore fire chief  previously  said Tuesday.

Earlier, family members of workers who were on the bridge at the time of the collapse spoke with CNN at Brawner Builders construction agency, where they were picking up vehicles belonging to their relatives.

CNN has reached out to Brawner Builders for comment.  

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Last September , Rorick, a competitive sailor and businessman, announced the formation of Moore Sailboats Inc. and plans to produce a high-quality, high-performance 33-ft trailerable racer. With Andrews’ record of designing record-setting and race-winning sailboats, it’s projected that the Moore 33 will be fast and good-looking. Even with the unanticipated changes, plans are moving forward for the new 33-footer.

Ron will remain on board to oversee the Moore 33 project while Javier Ruiz, his foreman of 20 years, will move to Southern California as production manager of the new mid-sized racer. “I’m too busy to retire,” said Ron. He’ll go down to SoCal to help set up the place and get them going. Delivery of the hull and deck molds are expected in February.

The trailerable Moore 24, launched 46 years ago, has an active class well known for its Roadmaster Series. Martha tells us that Richmond boatbuilder Rufus Sjoberg is taking the molds and building a carbon-fiber Moore 24. At the same time, “We are building our fourth Moore 24 deck that is being replaced on hull #24,” said Martha.

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America's Cup Challenger Series Underway The Prada Cup Kicks Off with an Upset The Prada Cup kicked off today with a sudden reversal of fortunes after INEOS Team UK turned things around, beating both New York Yacht Club's American Magic and Luna Rossa.

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Changing Plans Along The Way Krista’s Epic Corona Voyage Aboard Bark Europa Europa was scheduled to spend 2020 crossing the Pacific to Australia, but on March 15 we felt the first ripples of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pandemic Adjustments Continue More Changes to the Yacht Race Schedule The regional conditions and shelter-in-place requirement means that race committee boats and competitor boats must be from the same household.

Sailboat class / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dear wikiwand ai, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:.

Can you list the top facts and stats about Moore 30?

Summarize this article for a 10 year old

The Moore 30 is an American sailboat , that was designed by Gary Mull as a racer and first built in 1985. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

The boat was built by Moore Sailboats in Watsonville, California , United States , starting in 1985. Only five were built and it is now out of production. [1] [5] [6]

The Moore 30 is a small recreational keelboat , built predominantly of fiberglass . It has a fractional sloop rig and a fixed fin keel . It displaces 2,000   lb (907   kg) and carries 800   lb (363   kg) of ballast. The beam is 14   ft (4.3   m) , including the boat's hiking wings . [1] [2]

The boat has a hull speed of 6.87   kn (12.72   km/h) . [2]

• List of sailing boat types
• [2] InterVisionSoft LLC (2016). "Sailboat Specifications for Moore 30" . Sailing Joy . Archived from the original on 10 May 2017 . Retrieved 1 September 2016 .
• [3] McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Garry Mull (1939-1994)" . sailboatdata.com . Archived from the original on 20 December 2021 . Retrieved 20 December 2021 .
• [4] Sea Time Tech, LLC (2021). "Gary Mull" . sailboat.guide . Archived from the original on 20 December 2021 . Retrieved 20 December 2021 .
• [5] Sea Time Tech, LLC (2021). "Moore 30" . sailboat.guide . Archived from the original on 29 December 2021 . Retrieved 29 December 2021 .
• [6] McArthur, Bruce (2021). "Moore Sailboats 1967 -" . sailboatdata.com . Archived from the original on 29 December 2021 . Retrieved 29 December 2021 .

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Coast guard: 6 workers presumed dead after baltimore bridge collapse.

Officials suspend vessel traffic in Port of Baltimore after bridge collapse

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Six construction workers are presumed dead following the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.

Coast guard officials said around 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, nearly 18 hours after the bridge collapsed, that the six people are still unaccounted for. Those people are presumed dead, authorities say, and a search and rescue mission is now a recovery mission.

THE LATEST RIGHT NOW : • Officials confirmed six people who are missing after the collapse are presumed dead • Two people were initially rescued -- one declined treatment and another was taken to, and subsequently discharged from, Shock Trauma • Preliminary investigation shows this was not intentional • Gov. Wes Moore said the crew on the ship notified authorities that they had lost power. • Moore said between a Mayday call and the collapse, officials stopped the flow of traffic so that more cars were not on the bridge, potentially saving lives. • Baltimore Beltway\I-695 closed from Glen Burnie to Dundalk ( traffic map here )

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency after a cargo ship, the cargo ship " Dali ," crashed into a support structure of the 1.6-mile bridge that carried the Baltimore Beltway\Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River. Its collapse was reported around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Video posted online shows the entire structure breaking apart in several locations and collapsing. The Associated Press reported the ship caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed from it.

SkyTeam 11 reported the portion of the bridge that collapsed was the steel superstructure and that the concrete bridge appeared to remain intact.

6 presumed dead

After nearly 18 hours of searching, six people are presumed dead.

A group of construction workers was on the bridge when it collapsed, officials said. Six of those individuals are unaccounted for.

"Based on the length of time that we've gone in the search, the extensive search efforts we've put into it, the water temperature, we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals alive, and so this evening around 7:30, we are going to suspend active search and rescue efforts," said U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath.

Gilreath said those recovery efforts will resume Wednesday morning.

To the families of those missing, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Tuesday afternoon at a news conference: "We are here with you every step of the way. We are praying with you."

"This is an excruciating day for several families who woke up today to news that no one wants to receive. They are hoping and praying, and we are hoping and praying with them. We are all putting our arms around the city of Baltimore," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Port of Baltimore operations

The Maryland Port Administration suspended vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore until further notice. The port is not shut down and they are still processing trucks inside of the terminals.

Starting Wednesday, the New Vail Street gate will close until further notice. All truck traffic must enter through the Seagirt main gate at 2600 Broening Highway.

The Seagirt main gate will not be extended to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday as previously scheduled. It will close at the normal time of 4:30 p.m.

The Seagirt Marine Terminal will be closed on Good Friday.

Authorities: No credible information to suggest terrorism

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said there is no intelligence or any indication that the incident was intentional.

The FBI released the following statement, saying: "There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time. The investigation is ongoing. FBI Baltimore will continue to support our partners at the local, state and federal levels."

Video below captures collapse of Key Bridge

The ship underwent 27 inspections since the Dali came into service in 2016. There were no issues until June, when Chilean authorities found deficiencies in propulsion and the auxiliary machinery.

DHS said the Dali lost propulsion as it left Baltimore Harbor, which makes the June inspection particularly interesting.

SkyTeam 11 video below shows bridge collapse & point of impact

State of emergency

The governor's office released a statement, saying: "My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Video below: "Still actively looking for survivors" - Officials update on Key Bridge

"I have declared a state of emergency here in Maryland and we are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden administration.

"We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety.

"We will remain in close contact with federal, state, and local entities that are carrying out rescue efforts as we continue to assess and respond to this tragedy."

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Baltimore City in response to the collapse starting at 9 a.m. and will remain in place for 30 days, which enables the mobilization of emergency services and resources.

Video below: Lester Holt — 'Sometimes you see life change on a dime'

"This is an unthinkable tragedy," Scott said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "This is a tragedy you can never imagine. Never did you think you would see the Key Bridge tumble down like that. It looked like something out of a movie ... Our focus should be the preservation of life."

"We all awoke this morning to an unspeakable tragedy," Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said at a news conference early Tuesday morning. "We have a long road ahead not just in the search and rescue but in the fallout after this."

Alternate routes for harbor crossings

I-695 is closed between Maryland Route 157 (Peninsula Expressway) in Dundalk and Maryland Route 10 (Arundel Expressway) in Glen Burnie.

• Interstate 95\Fort McHenry Tunnel (Maximum height: 14 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 11 feet)
• Interstate 895\Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (Maximum height: 13 feet, 6 inches; maximum width: 8 feet)

Vehicles transporting hazardous materials (including propane of more than 10 pounds) are prohibited in tunnels and should use the western section of I-695 around tunnels.

See official truck routes through Baltimore City here .

President: Federal government will pay to rebuild bridge

President Joe Biden spoke on the bridge collapse Tuesday afternoon , saying the federal government will send all the resources needed by the city and state.

Video: President speaks about bridge collapse

"We're with you, were going to stay with you for along as it takes. Like the governor said, you're Maryland tough, you're Baltimore strong and we're going to get through this together, and I promise we're not leaving," Biden said.

The president called on Congress to put into motion the federal government paying for the construction of a replacement bridge.

"It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost to reconstruct the bridge," Biden said.

Buttigieg said the president's plan is to rebuild the bridge and reopen the port. He said the administration is prepared to approve emergency funding upon request from the state.

Video below: NTSB provides update on Key Bridge collapse

The Federal Highway Administration released a statement, saying: "The I-695 corridor is a vital connection for people and goods traveling along the East Coast, and we stand ready to offer technical assistance — including emergency relief funding — to help manage traffic and rebuild the bridge as quickly and safely as possible.

"In response to the collapse, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration have been actively coordinating with federal, state, and local officials in the region, including the Maryland Department of Transportation, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the city of Baltimore, U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB and others.

"Secretary (Pete) Buttigieg, Federal Highway Administrator (Shailen) Bhatt, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on site today to offer federal support and assistance."

Where is this bridge?

The Key Bridge open in 1977, completing the Baltimore Beltway's circumference around the city. The bridge is southeast of the city proper and spanned from Sparrows Point to the southernmost tip of Baltimore.

According to an Maryland Transportation Authority report issued in November, the Key Bridge carried more than 12.4 million commercial and passenger vehicles in 2023.

Federal Highway Administration records show the bridge was last inspected in May 2021, when inspectors rated it in fair condition overall at a rating of six (satisfactory) out of nine on three parameters. These inspections are supposed to occur every 24 months.

The Key Bridge was indeed last inspected in May 2023 and "found to be in satisfactory condition with an overall rating of fair," per a press aide for U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. That inspection found the bridge was in fair condition as well.

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Officials stopped traffic onto Baltimore Key Bridge before collapse: 'These people are heroes'

No vehicles were transiting the bridge during the incident, a briefing said.

Officials were able to stop the flow of traffic onto the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore before a massive cargo ship crashed into a support column, helping to save lives in the disaster, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.

The container ship Dali issued a mayday call as it approached the 1.6-mile-long bridge at about eight knots, a "very rapid speed," Moore said. Following that notification, officials were able to prevent more cars from going onto the bridge before the collapse, he said.

MORE: Baltimore Key Bridge collapse live updates

"These people are heroes," Moore told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday. "They saved lives last night."

After personnel on the ship alerted the Maryland Department of Transportation that they lost control of the vessel, local authorities were able to close the bridge before it was struck, "which undoubtedly saved lives," President Joe Biden said Tuesday during remarks on the disaster.

A review of traffic cameras by Maryland transportation officials confirmed there were "no vehicles transiting the bridge at the time of the incident," according to an internal U.S. Department of Homeland Security briefing obtained by ABC News.

The Singapore-flagged vessel struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. ET, causing the bridge to partially collapse, officials said. Authorities said several workers who were part of a maintenance team fixing potholes on the span went into the water, along with multiple vehicles.

Two workers were rescued while six remain unaccounted for following the collapse, officials said. Authorities were working to determine how many people may have been involved in the collapse, Moore said.

"The thing we do know is that many of the vehicles were stopped before they got onto the bridge, which saved lives in a very, very heroic way," he said.

MORE: What we know about Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

A search-and-rescue effort is underway, with divers and emergency personnel combing the area for people believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid water, officials said.

"To the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones, all our hearts are broken," Moore said. "In the face of heartbreak, we come together, we embrace each other."

Moore said there was no credible evidence that the crash involved terrorism. He said it appeared to be a tragic accident.

According to a Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News, a harbor pilot and an assistant aboard the cargo ship reported the power issues that prompted multiple alarms on the bridge of the vessel and loss of propulsion.

The bridge is part of Interstate 695 and crossed the Patapsco River in the Port of Baltimore.

An estimated 30,000 vehicles crossed the bridge per day, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

ABC News' Josh Margolin and Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.

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Six presumed dead after cargo ship crash levels Baltimore bridge

BALTIMORE — A major Baltimore bridge collapsed like a house of cards early Tuesday after it was struck by a containership, sending six people to their deaths in the dark waters below and closing one of the country’s busiest ports.

By Tuesday evening, search-and-rescue efforts for six people who were working on the bridge when it collapsed had transitioned into a recovery mission, Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon N. Gilreath said.

“We do not believe that we’re going to find any of these individuals still alive,” he said.

They were presumed dead based on the water temperature and the time that had passed since the ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused it to collapse around 1:30 a.m.

 Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders, earlier said that one person had survived. Their names were not released.

Earlier Tuesday as an extensive search was ongoing, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore was holding out hope that the missing people might be found.

It was a crushing blow to the loved ones of the missing men, who had waited for hours at a Royal Farms convenience store near the entrance of the bridge for word of their fate. 

Follow live updates here

The tragic chain of events began early Tuesday when the cargo ship Dali notified authorities that it had lost power and issued a mayday moments before the 984-foot vessel slammed into a bridge support at a speed of 8 knots, which is about 9 mph.

Moore declared a state of emergency while rescue crews using sonar detected at least five vehicles in the frigid 50-foot-deep water: three passenger cars, a cement truck and another vehicle of some kind. Authorities do not believe anyone was inside the vehicles.

Investigators quickly concluded that it was an accident and not an act of terrorism.

Ship was involved in another collision

Earlier, two people were rescued from the water, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said. One was in good condition and refused treatment, he said. The other was seriously injured and was being treated in a trauma center.

Moore said other drivers might have been in the water had it not been for the “folks” who, upon hearing the mayday, blocked off the bridge and kept other vehicles from crossing.

“These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives. They saved lives.”

Nearly eight years ago, the Dali was involved in another collision. In July 2016, it collided with a quay at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, damaging the quay.

The nautical commission investigated the accident, but the details of the probe were not immediately clear Tuesday.

The Dali is operated and managed by a company called Synergy Group. In a statement, the company said that two port pilots were at the helm at the time of Tuesday's crash and that all 22 crew members onboard were accounted for.

The bridge, which is about a mile and a half long and carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River southeast of Baltimore, was "fully up to code," Moore said.

A 24-person team of National Transportation Safety Board investigators was already at the crash site.

NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said her agency will lead the investigation. She said a data recorder on the ship could provide more information.

"But right now we're focusing on the people, on the families," she said. "The rest can wait."

President Joe Biden vowed to rebuild the bridge and send federal funds.

"This is going to take some time," Biden warned. "The people of Baltimore can count on us though to stick with them, at every step of the way, till the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt."

Speaking in Baltimore, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg echoed the president's promise.

"This is no ordinary bridge," he said. "This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure."

But Buttigieg warned that replacing the bridge and reopening the port will take time and cost money and that it could affect supply chains.

The Port of Baltimore, the 11th largest in the U.S., is the busiest port for car imports and exports, handling more than 750,000 vehicles in 2023 alone, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration.

The Dali was chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, which said it will have no choice but to send its ships to other nearby ports with the Port of Baltimore closed.

Writer David Simon, a champion of Baltimore who set his TV crime drama "The Wire" on the streets of the city he once covered as a reporter, warned online that the people who will suffer the most are those whose livelihoods depend on the port.

"Thinking first of the people on the bridge," Simon posted on X . "But the mind wanders to a port city strangling. All the people who rely on ships in and out."

Timeline of crash

Dramatic video captured the moment at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday when the Dali struck a support and sent the bridge tumbling into the water. A livestream showed cars and trucks on the bridge just before the collision. The ship did not sink, and its lights remained on.

Investigators said in a timeline that the Dali's lights suddenly shut off four minutes earlier before they came back on and that then, at 1:25 a.m. dark black smoke began billowing from the ship's chimney.

A minute later, at 1:26 a.m., the ship appeared to turn. And in the minutes before it slammed into the support, the lights flicked off and on again.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said the workers on the bridge were repairing concrete ducts when the ship crashed into the structure.

At least seven workers were pouring concrete to fix potholes on the roadway on the bridge directly above where the ship hit, said James Krutzfeldt, a foreman.

Krutzfeldt, who was not working on that job, said one is another foreman whom he considers his mentor and “work dad.”

"I'm still kind of in shock," he said.

Earlier, the Coast Guard said it had received a report that a “motor vessel made impact with the bridge” and confirmed it was the Dali, a containership sailing under a Singaporean flag that was heading for Sri Lanka.

Bobby Haines, who lives in Dundalk in Baltimore County, said he felt the impact of the bridge collapse from his house nearby.

"I woke up at 1:30 this morning and my house shook, and I was freaking out," he said. "I thought it was an earthquake, and to find out it was a bridge is really, really scary."

Families of bridge workers wait for updates

Earlier in the day, relatives of the construction crew waited for updates on their missing loved ones.

Marian Del Carmen Castellon told Telemundo her husband, Miguel Luna, 49, was among those working on the bridge.

“They only tell us that we have to wait and that they can’t give us information,” she said.

Asked how she was holding up, Castellon said, "Devastated, devastated because our heart is broken, because we don’t know how they have been rescued yet. We are just waiting for the news."

Luna's co-worker Jesús Campos said he felt crushed, too.

“It hurts my heart to see what is happening. We are human beings, and they are my folks,” he said.

Campos told The Baltimore Banner that the missing men are from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

Some of the construction workers who still have not been found had babies recently, said Earl Schneider, a structural foreman with the company. 

“I know everybody on that crew personally," Schneider told NBC News. "They’re all great people. It’s tough. It’s been a rough morning.”

Earlier, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott urged his constituents to pray for the workers — and the first responders struggling to locate them.

"This is an unthinkable tragedy," Scott said.

'A long road in front of us'

Built in 1977 and referred to locally as the Key Bridge, the structure was later named after the author of the American national anthem.

The bridge is more than 8,500 feet long, or 1.6 miles. Its main section spans 1,200 feet, and it was one of the longest continuous truss bridges in the world upon its completion, according to the National Steel Bridge Alliance .

About 31,000 vehicles a day use the bridge, which equals 11.3 million vehicles per year, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority.

The river and the Port of Baltimore are both key to the shipping industry on the East Coast, generating more than $3.3 billion a year and directly employing more than 15,000 people.

Asked what people in Baltimore can expect going forward, the state's transportation secretary said it is too early to tell.

"Obviously we reached out to a number of engineering companies, so obviously we have a long road in front of us," Wiedefeld said.

Julia Jester reported from Baltimore, Patrick Smith from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Julia Jester is a producer for NBC News based in Washington, D.C.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.

Learn How to Moor a Sailboat: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

Alex Morgan

Moorings play a crucial role in keeping sailboats secure and stationary when they are not in use. Properly mooring a sailboat is essential for maintaining its safety and protecting it from damage. This comprehensive article will guide you through the process of mooring a sailboat, covering everything from understanding the basics of moorings to selecting the right mooring area and preparing your boat for mooring. It will also provide step-by-step instructions on how to secure your sailboat using various lines and offer best practices for maintaining and adjusting the mooring based on weather conditions. By following these guidelines, you can ensure the safety and stability of your sailboat when it is not in use.

Key takeaway:

• Proper mooring is important for a sailboat: Understanding the basics of mooring and selecting the right mooring area ensures the safety and stability of the sailboat.
• Preparing your sailboat for mooring is crucial: Inspecting your boat’s equipment and gathering necessary equipment for mooring ensures a smooth and secure mooring process.
• Following the steps to moor a sailboat correctly: Approaching the mooring area, securing the bow and stern lines, and attaching additional lines for security are essential steps to properly moor a sailboat.

Understanding the Basics of Moorings

Understanding the basics of moorings is crucial when it comes to safely securing a sailboat. Here are the key points you need to know:

1. Importance of moorings: Moorings serve as anchor systems that keep a sailboat in place, preventing it from drifting in areas with strong currents or high winds .

2. Types of moorings: There are different types of moorings, including swing moorings , pile moorings , and buoy moorings . Each type has its own advantages and considerations , such as water depth and seabed conditions .

3. Choosing a suitable mooring: When selecting a mooring, it is important to consider factors such as the size and weight of the sailboat, water depth , and current conditions. It may be helpful to consult with local authorities or experienced sailors for recommendations .

4. Proper installation: To prevent accidents or damage to your sailboat, it is essential to properly install the mooring. This involves securely attaching it to the seabed or an anchor point and regularly inspecting it for any signs of wear or damage .

5. Safety precautions: Utilize strong equipment such as mooring lines and shackles to ensure the sailboat is securely anchored. Regularly inspect and maintain the mooring equipment to avoid any potential failures .

Understanding the fundamentals of moorings is vital for the safety and stability of your sailboat while it is docked. By following proper procedures and taking necessary precautions, you can protect your investment and fully enjoy your time on the water.

What is Mooring?

Mooring is the process of securing a sailboat using lines or anchors. It is essential for the safety and stability of the boat when not in use. Proper mooring prevents drifting and holds the boat in place until needed. This involves attaching lines to secure points on the boat and anchoring them in the water.

Failure to properly secure a boat can lead to accidents and damage. For example, let’s understand what mooring is. A sailor left their boat unattended without proper mooring, and during a storm, it broke free and crashed into rocks, causing significant damage. This could have been avoided with secure mooring.

Learning what mooring is becomes essential for sailors to ensure boat safety and avoid accidents. By understanding the basics of mooring and selecting the right mooring area, sailors can securely store their boats. To avoid mishaps, it is important to monitor weather conditions, regularly inspect and maintain mooring lines, and report any issues that may affect mooring.

Why is Proper Mooring Important for a Sailboat?

Proper mooring is important for a sailboat because it prevents damage by securing the boat and preventing it from drifting or being thrown against objects. It ensures the safety of the boat’s occupants by keeping the boat stable and reducing the risk of accidents or injuries. Proper mooring helps protect the sailboat from adverse weather conditions like strong winds, waves, and currents. It also prevents collisions with other boats, docks, or obstacles in the water. Moreover, mooring a sailboat properly reduces the risk of environmental damage by preventing the boat from drifting into sensitive areas such as coral reefs or protected marine habitats . Therefore, proper mooring is crucial for the overall well-being and preservation of a sailboat.

Selecting the Right Mooring Area

When selecting the right mooring area for your sailboat, there are several factors to take into consideration:

• Depth: It is important to ensure that the chosen area has sufficient depth to safely accommodate your sailboat without grounding. This will depend on the size and draft of your boat.
• Protection: Look for a mooring area that offers protection from strong winds, waves, and currents. A sheltered cove or marina can provide secure conditions for mooring.
• Access: Consider the proximity of the mooring area to amenities such as fuel docks, restaurants, and grocery stores. Easy access to these facilities can enhance your boating experience.
• Security: Prioritize a mooring area with effective security measures, such as surveillance cameras or on-site security personnel, to safeguard your boat from theft or vandalism.
• Availability: Check if the mooring area has available space for your boat. Crowded areas may require reservations, while less busy areas might have limited facilities or services.

When taking these factors into account, it is crucial to also adhere to any regulations or restrictions set by local authorities or mooring operators. Always give priority to safety and the well-being of your boat when choosing a mooring area.

What Factors Should be Considered when Choosing a Mooring Area?

When choosing a mooring area for your sailboat, it is important to consider several factors. So, what factors should be considered when choosing a mooring area?

Water depth is crucial. You need to ensure that there is enough water depth to accommodate your sailboat’s draft, taking tidal changes into account. This will help prevent grounding and potential damage to your boat.

It is essential to find a mooring area that offers protection from strong winds and rough waves. Natural barriers, such as islands or breakwaters, can provide the necessary shelter.

Another important factor to consider is the proximity to facilities. You should evaluate how close the mooring area is to marinas, fuel docks, and supply stores. Being nearby makes refueling and restocking more convenient.

Assessing the current and tidal flow is also vital. Take into consideration the strength and direction of currents and tidal flow in the mooring area. Strong currents can make docking and maneuvering difficult, while excessive tidal flow can strain mooring lines.

Identifying navigation hazards is crucial as well. Look out for potential risks such as rocks, shoals, or submerged objects in the mooring area. Avoiding these areas will help minimize the risk of sailboat damage.

Accessibility is another key factor. Evaluate how easy it is to access the mooring area, particularly during different weather conditions. Make sure there are no obstructions or narrow channels that could make navigation challenging.

Familiarize yourself with any mooring regulations or restrictions in the area. Some places may require permits or have specific anchoring rules that you need to comply with.

By considering all these factors, you can choose a mooring area that is safe , accessible , and meets your needs for a comfortable and enjoyable sailing experience.

What are the Different Types of Mooring Areas?

Different types of mooring areas are available for sailboats. If you are wondering, “ What are the Different Types of Mooring Areas? ” below is a table outlining the various types and their characteristics:

Each type of mooring area has advantages and considerations. The choice depends on factors such as length of stay, desired amenities, availability of facilities, and personal preferences. It is important to select the right mooring area based on the specific needs and plans for the sailboat.

Preparing Your Sailboat for Mooring

Preparing your sailboat for mooring sets the foundation for a safe and secure docking experience. As we delve into inspecting your boat’s equipment and gathering necessary equipment for mooring, you’ll gain valuable insights and strategies to ensure that your sailboat is in top condition and ready for a smooth docking process. From checking vital components to gathering essential tools, we’ll equip you with the knowledge to confidently moor your sailboat with ease.

Inspecting Your Boat’s Equipment

When preparing your sailboat for mooring, it is important to inspect your boat’s equipment to ensure safety and functionality. Follow these steps to properly inspect your boat:

1. Begin by checking the anchor and anchor chain for any signs of damage or wear. It is crucial to ensure that the anchor is securely attached to the boat.

2. Next, thoroughly inspect the mooring lines for any fraying, tears, or weak spots. If you find any damaged lines, it is important to replace them to ensure proper and secure mooring.

3. Take the time to examine the cleats and fairleads , ensuring that they are securely fastened and in good condition. These components are essential for tying off the mooring lines effectively.

4. Check the fenders for any leaks or damage. Remember that fenders play a vital role in protecting your boat from the dock or other boats while it is moored.

5. Test the boat’s navigation lights to ensure that they are functioning correctly. These lights are crucial for providing nighttime visibility during mooring.

6. Inspect the bilge pump to ensure that it is functioning correctly. This pump is responsible for removing any accumulated water in the bilge area.

By thoroughly inspecting your boat’s equipment, you can ensure that everything is in proper working order, reducing the risk of accidents or damage while mooring your sailboat.

Gathering Necessary Equipment for Mooring

When gathering equipment for mooring your sailboat, make sure to have the right tools and gear for a safe and successful experience.

Fenders: Inflatable cushions placed between the boat and the dock or other boats to prevent damage. Have enough fenders for the size of your boat.

Mooring Lines: Ropes that secure your boat to the dock or mooring area. Have enough lines of appropriate length and strength.

Boat Hook: A versatile tool used for grabbing lines, fenders, or other objects while on the water. Essential for maneuvering your boat during mooring.

Anchor: Depending on the mooring area, you may need an anchor to secure your boat. Have the appropriate anchor based on size and weight.

Flashlight: Important for mooring in low-light conditions or at night. Helps you see clearly and ensure proper boat securing.

Extra Hardware: Always have additional hardware such as clips, shackles, or carabiners. These are helpful for securing lines or making adjustments while mooring.

By gathering these necessary equipment items, you will be well-prepared and have peace of mind knowing your sailboat is safely secured.

Steps to Moor a Sailboat

Steering your sailboat to safe harbor requires precision and skill . In this section, we will walk you through the necessary steps to moor your sailboat with confidence . From smoothly approaching the mooring area to securely fastening the bow line and stern line , we’ll leave no detail unexplained. Plus, we’ll show you how to add additional lines for extra security, ensuring your sailboat stays steadfastly in place. Get ready to become a master of the mooring process!

Approaching the Mooring Area

Approaching the Mooring Area can be done by following these steps:

– Slowly approach the mooring area, watching for other boats or obstacles.

– Identify the designated mooring spot based on visual markers or instructions.

– Adjust the sailboat’s speed and direction to align with the mooring spot.

– Communicate with your crew to ensure they’re ready to assist with the mooring process.

– Reduce the sailboat’s speed as you get closer to the mooring spot.

– Carefully position the bow of the sailboat towards the mooring buoy.

– Use boat hooks or poles to grab the mooring buoy line.

– Guide the line through a bow cleat or fairlead, ensuring it’s securely attached to the sailboat.

– Check that the line is properly secured and can handle the sailboat’s weight and movement.

– Double-check the surrounding area for other boats or hazards before completing the mooring process.

Approaching the mooring area requires precision and attention to detail for a safe and successful mooring experience. By following these steps, you can navigate your sailboat effectively to the designated mooring spot and secure it to the mooring buoy.

Securing the Bow Line

Securing the bow line of a sailboat is crucial for properly mooring the boat. Here are the necessary steps to secure the bow line:

1. Slowly approach the mooring area to align the sailboat’s bow with the designated mooring point.

2. Securely hold the bow line and pass it to either someone on the dock or another crew member.

3. As the boat moves forward slightly, instruct the crew member on the dock or another boat to securely fasten the bow line to the mooring point.

4. Make necessary adjustments to the bow line to ensure proper tension, ensuring that the boat remains securely in place without placing unnecessary strain on the line or the boat’s cleats.

5. Double-check the security of the bow line to ensure it is properly fastened and not at risk of becoming undone.

Securing the bow line of a sailboat is of utmost importance for effective mooring. It plays a vital role in maintaining the boat’s position and prevents any excessive movement or drifting. A properly secured bow line not only ensures the safety of the boat but also minimizes the risk of damage to both the boat and its surrounding environment.

Securing the Stern Line

Securing the stern line is of utmost importance when mooring a sailboat. Follow these steps to effectively secure the stern line and ensure the safety of your sailboat while moored:

• Begin by securing the bow line and positioning your sailboat so that the stern is facing the mooring area.
• Attach the stern line to a sturdy and secure point on the boat, such as a cleat or bollard .
• Carefully guide the stern line towards the mooring buoy or dock post .
• Make sure that the stern line is long enough to reach the mooring point while maintaining a safe distance from other boats or objects.
• Once you are near the mooring point, pass the stern line through the appropriate section of the mooring buoy or around the dock post.
• Create a loop with the end of the stern line and pass the bitter end through to secure the knot, like a cleat hitch or clove hitch .
• Tighten the knot securely, ensuring that the line is snug but not excessively tensioned.
• Thoroughly inspect the knot and line to verify that it is properly secured and capable of holding the boat in place.
• Before leaving the boat unattended, double-check the connections and tension of the stern line.

By incorporating these steps, you can effectively secure the stern line and guarantee the safety of your sailboat while moored.

Attaching Additional Lines for Added Security

To ensure added security when mooring a sailboat, it is important to attach additional lines in a strategic manner. By following these steps, you can enhance the stability and safety of your sailboat:

• First, secure both the bow line and stern line .
• Next, assess the boat’s position and carefully consider the surrounding conditions.
• Take note of any potential risks or points of stress on the boat, such as strong currents , high winds , or nearby obstacles.
• Select appropriate attachment points on the boat, such as cleats , eyelets , or bollards .
• Utilize secure knots, such as cleat hitches or bowlines , to tie each additional line to the chosen attachment points.
• It is crucial to strategically distribute the additional lines to provide balanced support to the boat.
• Adjust the tension of each additional line to achieve optimal security without straining the boat’s structure.
• Regularly monitor and adjust the tension and condition of the additional lines to ensure ongoing security.
• Properly store and coil the additional lines to prevent tangling or tripping hazards.

By incorporating these steps and attaching additional lines for added security, you can greatly enhance the stability and safety of your sailboat during mooring. It is essential to consider the specific conditions and requirements of your mooring area to ensure the best possible security for your boat.

Best Practices for Mooring

When it comes to mooring a sailboat , there are some key practices that can make all the difference. In this section, we’ll discover the best tips and techniques to ensure a secure and reliable mooring experience. From regularly inspecting and maintaining mooring lines to staying aware of weather conditions and adjusting accordingly, we’ll cover it all. Plus, we’ll uncover the importance of reporting problems and observations to enhance the safety and longevity of your mooring. So, let’s dive into the world of mooring best practices !

Regularly Inspecting and Maintaining Mooring Lines

Regularly inspecting and maintaining mooring lines is crucial to ensure the safety and security of your sailboat. Follow these steps to keep your lines in top condition:

1. Conduct a visual inspection of the lines, carefully checking for any signs of wear, fraying, or damage, especially at the attachment points.

2. Verify the tightness and security of knots or securements to guarantee that they can withstand the strain.

3. Run your hands along the lines to detect any abnormalities such as knots or kinks that may compromise their strength.

4. Promptly replace any damaged or worn lines with high-quality, marine-grade options to maintain their durability.

5. Keep the mooring lines clean by using mild soap and water to remove dirt, salt, or debris. Rinse them thoroughly afterwards.

6. Ensure that the lines are completely dry before storing them to prevent the growth of mold or mildew.

7. Store the lines properly by neatly coiling them and utilizing Velcro straps or dedicated marine storage solutions. This will prevent tangling or any potential damage.

By regularly inspecting and maintaining your mooring lines, you are ensuring their reliability and longevity. This, in turn, promotes the overall safety and lifespan of your sailboat while it is moored.

Being Aware of Weather Conditions and Adjusting Mooring Accordingly

Being aware of weather conditions and adjusting mooring accordingly is crucial for the safety of your sailboat. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Check weather forecasts regularly.

2. Monitor wind speed and direction to assess their impact on your mooring.

3. Secure additional lines for extra security during strong winds or stormy weather.

4. Adjust your mooring position to minimize the impact of strong winds or waves.

5. Regularly inspect your mooring lines to ensure they can withstand weather conditions.

6. Be prepared to take prompt action if weather conditions worsen, such as repositioning your boat or seeking shelter.

Fact: According to NOAA, being aware of and adjusting mooring according to weather conditions can significantly reduce the risk of sailboat damage.

Reporting Problems and Observations

Reporting Problems and Observations is essential for mooring a sailboat safely and preventing potential issues. Here are key points to consider:

1. Regularly inspect mooring lines for signs of wear, tear, or damage. Replace frayed or weakened sections as necessary to reduce the risk of line failure and accidents.

2. Take immediate action if you notice issues with the mooring lines, such as excessive stretching or weakened attachments. Promptly addressing problems prevents further damage and ensures your sailboat’s safety.

3. Develop a habit of observing your surroundings while moored. Take note of changes or potential hazards, such as water conditions, nearby vessels, weather changes, or submerged hazards. Stay vigilant and quickly report any concerns.

4. If you encounter problems with the mooring area, like malfunctioning buoys or damaged equipment, report them to the relevant authorities or marina staff. Prompt reporting helps maintain the safety of all boats in the area.

Remember, ensuring the safety of your sailboat and the mooring area is a shared responsibility. By promptly reporting problems and being observant, you contribute to the well-being of the boating community.

Pro-tip: Keep a dedicated sailboat notebook to record problems or observations during each mooring. This practice helps you stay organized and provides valuable information for future reference or discussions with marine authorities.

Some Facts About How To Moor A Sailboat:

• ✅ Mooring balls consist of an anchor on the sea bottom with a chain going to the ball, which has a ring on top. (Source: lifeofsailing.com)
• ✅ It is important to inspect the mooring ball system above water and dive to confirm the anchor’s placement and strength. (Source: lifeofsailing.com)
• ✅ To tie the vessel to the mooring, two lines are attached to the bow cleats and fed through the pennant or ring on the ball, then secured back to their original cleats. (Source: lifeofsailing.com)
• ✅ Rubber hose can be used to prevent chafing on lines, and it can be sewn or tied to the line to keep it in place. (Source: sailingbritican.com)
• ✅ New boat owners often struggle with mooring balls and anchoring, so it is important to use the proper anchoring technique and avoid using the wrong anchor. (Source: sailingbritican.com)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. how do i tie onto a mooring ball.

To tie onto a mooring ball, approach the buoy slowly from downwind or down current, keeping the buoy on the same side as the helm station. Safely retrieve the yellow pick-up line with a boat hook and run your boat’s bow line through the loop of the pick-up line. Let out enough line so that the buoy is not pulled underwater and the line is horizontal.

2. Can I tie the pick-up line directly to my boat or stern tie to a buoy?

No, it is not recommended to tie the pick-up line directly to your boat or stern tie to a buoy as it puts stress on the mooring system. It is best to run your boat’s bow line through the loop of the pick-up line.

3. What should I do when leaving a mooring buoy?

When leaving, un-cleat your boat’s bow line and back away from the mooring to avoid fouling the lines. Make sure to release the mooring properly to prevent any damage.

4. What are some additional considerations when using mooring buoys?

When using mooring buoys, it is important to approach buoys from the outside of a ring, maintain idle speed/no wake, anchor only in sand, and avoid using large sails on buoys. Smaller boats are encouraged to tie off to each other to allow larger vessels access to buoys. Caution should be taken to avoid grounding and disturbing noise.

5. How do I tie onto a mooring ball as a solo sailor?

As a solo sailor, you can slowly pull alongside the mooring ball and toss a heavy line over it, securing both ends to one bow cleat. This allows you to tie the vessel to the mooring without assistance.

6. How should I secure my vessel during storms?

During storms, it is important to fully inspect the mooring system and use dock lines with spliced eyes or loops to secure the vessel. Rubber hose can be used to prevent chafing on lines, and it can be sewn or tied to the line to keep it in place. Taking due diligence in securing the vessel is essential for its safety.

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Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30 Feet

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

December 28, 2023

Trailerable sailboats are the perfect solution for weekend or day cruisers. They're easy to store, transport, and set up, which gets you on the water fast.

Trailerable sailboats come in many different shapes and sizes. Many trailerable sailboats even have retractable keels, which not only comes in handy for towing, but also for sailing around shallower waters. Depending on how you plan on sailing, there's sure to be a trailerable sailboat that suits you and your family.

Below are the best trailerable sailboats under 20 feet, separated into their best use: day sailing and cruising.

Table of contents

Best Sailboats Under 30' for Day Sailing

Small, trailerable sailboats are great for daily use because they're easy to set up, and you can take them anywhere within driving distance and explore new areas.

This category of sailboat won't have a cabin, instead, these sailboats have plenty of room on deck for the whole family to enjoy a sailing adventure together. Many of these sailboats are faster and have less amenities than a cruising boat, which makes them easy to set up for a day use and offer a fun, sporty day activity.

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-15"}}

The Hunter 15 is designed for safety and versatility. Without a cabin, it can fit up to four people on its benches. The Hunter 15' features high sides and a self-bailing cockpit, which makes it a great option for novices and kids.

The sailboat tows at 750 lbs, which means most vehicles can tow it. The retractable keel makes it so even lower vehicles can tow the boat.

The retractable keel also makes it so you can beach the sailboat, something you can't do with a bigger sailboat. That makes sailing the Hunter 15 around coves and islands even more enjoyable. Explore hidden beaches by yourself or with friends and family. 

{{boat-info="/boats/laserperformance-laser-13"}}

The Laser sailboat has been a favorite among dinghy racers for years. That's because it's super lightweight, really fast, and fun.

Not only is the laser a fun craft, but it's also very easy to use and transport. Its lightweight is due to the fiberglass hull construction and lack of a keel. You can either tow the Laser, or you can even strap it to the top of a vehicle.

While going fast is fun, you don't have to race the Laser to have fun. The Laser is great for leisure sailing. Thankfully, since it is so light, you don't need much wind to have a great sailing day.

Since it is so small, it fits one to two people in its cockpit. Also, it's lack of keel means it is very easy to tip over . But, it's also very easy to flip back. If you're someone who doesn't want to get soaked, the Laser might not be for you.

But if you're looking for a way to get on the water without much fuss and special towing equipment, the Laser is perfect for you.

Catalina 16.5

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-16-5"}}

Catalina has been a popular sailboat brand for decades, and there's no question that their larger crafts are some of the most common sailboats you see at any marina.

They're popular for good reason. Catalina sailboats are made with lightweight fiberglass and include standard, good quality rigging. They're affordable sailboats to buy new and easy to find used.

The Catalina 16.5 came into existence in 1994 and has remained on the market ever since. It comes in at under 500 lbs, which makes it easy to tow with just about any vehicle, so don't worry about adding a massive truck to your purchase.

This trailerable sailboat has a storage compartment in the front (great for packing a picnic and extra supplies) and can accommodate up to four adults. If you're looking for a boat you can spend all day sailing comfortably and not break the bank to purchase, the Catalina 16.5 might be the one for you.

{{boat-info="/boats/hobie-16"}}

Chances are, you've seen a Hobbie 16 on a beach somewhere. They're popular anywhere there's a body of water because they're fast and easy to operate. They're one of the most popular small crafts for youth sailing and racing. They're so popular that they were recently inducted into the Sailing Hall of Fame.

Hobbie 16s are recognizable because of their "banana-shaped" hulls and often colorful sails. Unlike the previously listed sailboats, these are catamarans. So, you get two hulls and a trampoline in between them. They also hold 1-4 people in their cockpits.

As a trailerable catamaran, you can't get much better. It's super lightweight, it has no keel, and it's easy to set up. Because of the catamaran style, you'll often see people having fun on these ocean beaches.

The two-hull design makes it less likely to capsize, and it's sturdy enough that you can take on bigger waves and stronger winds than some other trailerable sailboats .

Norseman 17.5

{{boat-info="/boats/norseboat-17-5"}}

The Norseman 17.5 is one of the more attractive boats on this list. It's not a racing boat-in fact, it's an ideal day cruiser.

It's a handcrafted cruiser, and it's designers nicknamed it the swiss army knife of sailboats because it's a sailboat and a rowboat all in one.

If you want something that looks and feels seaworthy but is still trailerable, the Norseman 17.5 hits the spot. It's low maintenance and expertly designed to be as efficient as possible. Because it's designed to mimic a more traditional, larger sailboat, it does have a fixed keel. But, that doesn't mean you can't trailer it still.

The dual purpose of the Norseman 17.5 is appealing because no matter what setting you're in, the Norseman 17.5 can perform, not unlike a swiss army knife. First and foremost, this boat is for sailing, and it gives a great sailing experience, not unlike any larger sailboat.

Best Trailerable Sailboats Under 30' for Cruising

Sailboats for camping come with a few more amenities. Many people prefer this kind of sailboat because it offers more freedom to stay overnight on the boat and make longer trips. Most of the time, they come equipped with a cabin for sleeping and cabin lights for a comfortable sleeping experience.

Most trailerable sailboats for cruising and camping are over 20' and cost more than a daysailer. They also typically weigh more and require a towing vehicle and special trailer because of their larger cabin space and equipment. Many people opt to put a trolling motor on the back of their pocket cruiser for getting in and out of slips and docks.

Even though they're tiny, many people spend their entire weekends or days on a small cruiser. Since they're more equipped for extended trips, you can sail along the coasts comfortably.

Catalina 22 Sport

{{boat-info="/boats/catalina-22-sport"}}

The Catalina 22 is one of the most popular sailboats in the United States. No matter where you are, you'll find a fleet of Catalina 22s at just about any marina. After they stopped making the original Catalina 22, the only way to find one (if you wanted to join a racing fleet) was to buy one used.

After years of demand, the sailboat manufacturer finally came out with the 22' Sport. It's just about the same as the original 22, so much so that you can join a Catalina 22 fleet among the original sailboats.

Catalina 22 Sport is a racing boat and a pocket cruiser. It's easy to trailer, easy to rig, and a great family sailboat.

{{boat-info="/boats/hunter-22"}}

Like its smaller relative, the Hunter 22 is known for being safe and sturdy, ready for adventure. It makes for an ideal daysailer or weekend tripper. Even though it's family-friendly, it's still capable of going fast. You can enter in a race or beach hop.

The Hunter 22 features a small cabin that's very comfortable for camping. It comes with a small stove, cooler, and toilet. There's a small dinette that converts to a bed, so you can go from breakfast to bed easily within the boat cabin.

The original Hunter 22 stopped production in 1985, but Hunter has since recently started making a new Hunter 22 that's even better than the original. Still, you'll find plenty of used Hunter 22s.

{{boat-info="/boats/sage-marine-sage-15"}}

The Sage 15' is a good looking compact, abstract-style sailboat. It's almost identical to its bigger counterpart, the Sage 17, but this model has a retractable keel.

On the water, you wouldn't guess the Sage 15 was a trailer sailer . It's got all the charm of a classic sailboat, with many of the amenities desirable in a pocket cruiser.

One thing to note is the mast and its rigging only weighs 20 pounds, which makes it easy to raise and lower by yourself. When you're towing to and from your location, you want the set up to be as easy as possible, so this is a huge plus.

This boat has room for two people on the deck and in the cockpit. It's perfect for people who enjoy a solo voyage here and there or for couples looking to have a day on the water every once in a while.

West Wight Potter 19

{{boat-info="/boats/west-wight-potter-19"}}

According to the West Wight Potter website, it only takes 45 minutes to rig a simple setup and get on the water. As far as trailerable sailboats go, the Potter 19' has all the amenities you could want for comfortable weekend getaways on the water.

Like almost all the boats on this list, the Potter 19 has a retractable keel and a self-bailing cockpit. It's stable and very unlikely to heel over too far. The Potter 19 is one of the most responsive sailboats in its class.

What makes the Potter 19 a great trailerable sailboat for camping is the spacious cabin. The cabin features two berths that can sleep four and seating for up to five people. The cabin also comes with a burner stove and a cooler. Depending on what your plans are, you can get the boat customized to your needs.

The West Wight Potter 19 makes the most out of its compact space, which makes it versatile. Also, with the trailer, the Potter 19 fits inside the standard garage. So, don't worry about paying marina fees when you can store your boat right in your garage.

{{boat-info="/boats/moore-24"}}

The last boat on this list is a trailerable sailboat that's proven seaworthy. The Moor 24 was famously sailed from Santa Cruz, California to Honolulu, Hawaii in 17 days. Not only is it seaworthy, but it's fast. The Moor 24 is a prime racing boat, and it's won many Cups.

The Moor 24 sailboat is not only a performance vessel. It also offers comfortable cruising with a cushioned v-berth for overnight or weekend trips. The Moore 24 is easy to handle and one of the smoothest sails. Experienced sailors will appreciate how it sails, and novice sailors will appreciate how easy it is to master.

It's such a gem of a sailboat, it's hard to believe it fits on a trailer.

Which Sailboat is Right for You?

Choosing to buy a trailerable sailboat is a good choice for people who don't want to break the bank or worry about marina fees and docking fees. For people who want to go on the occasional weekend sailing trip or day trip, there is no more affordable option.

To choose the right trailerable sailboat, consider what kind of sailing you want to do. A day sailor offers you a smaller boat that's easy to tow and that's more affordable. These boats are great for training kids to sail or learning how to sail yourself.

But, likely, you'll eventually want to graduate to a slightly more capable sailboat. That's because a trailerable cruising sailboat gives more of a traditional sailing experience, including overnight trips and more seaworthiness.

Thankfully, sailboats are easy to find used and cheaper than brand new. Trailer sailors especially are easy to come by and get a good deal on. Whether you're just starting out or just looking for some fun on the weekends, finding the right trailerable sailboat under 30 feet is a breeze.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Local News | 6 workers presumed dead; Baltimore’s Key…

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Local news | 6 workers presumed dead; baltimore’s key bridge collapses after container ship hits support column.

A massive container ship adrift at 9 mph issued a “mayday” early Tuesday as it headed toward the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge, losing power before colliding with one of the vital support columns. As the 984-foot vessel struck the bridge in the middle of an otherwise calm night, it caused a din that woke people ashore and immediately toppled an essential mid-Atlantic thoroughfare into the frigid waters.

The effects were immediate and catastrophic: Authorities began searching for six construction workers who had been repairing potholes on the Interstate 695 bridge at the time of the collapse. By Tuesday evening, their employer said they were presumed dead, and the Coast Guard said it was ending rescue efforts.

Citizens and officials mourned — Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Turner Station in Dundalk hosted an interfaith prayer vigil Tuesday evening — while working to pick up the pieces from a catastrophe that reverberated up and down the East Coast, as well as around the U.S. and the world. One of three paths across Baltimore’s harbor had been destroyed and, in the same motion, a major shipping channel was obstructed by the very steel that had safely guided thousands of commuters across it the day before.

Despite promises from President Joe Biden that the federal government will pay for a new bridge, state and federal officials couldn’t say how long that would take. But it was clear the devastation, traffic detours and impact on commerce will be long-lasting.

The ship, a Singapore-flagged vessel named Dali with thousands of containers on it, departed the Port of Baltimore around 1 a.m., then quickly ran into trouble. It’s unknown what, precisely, caused the collision at 1:27 a.m., but the ship reported losing power just before it struck the bridge. The National Transportation and Safety Board is investigating the accident — which authorities said does not appear to be intentional nor an act of terrorism — but had not boarded the vessel to collect evidence, such as recorders, as of Tuesday afternoon.

It did not want to disturb the more pressing matter: search efforts led by the U.S. Coast Guard. But Tuesday night, Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said the rescue efforts would be suspended.

“Based on the length of time that has gone on in the search, the extensive search efforts that we’ve put into it, the water temperature, at this point we do not believe we are going to find any of these individuals still alive,” Gilreath said.

Two people — one who was briefly hospitalized and another who declined a trip to a hospital — were rescued, authorities said.

Many more may have been spared: The Maryland Transportation Authority Police on the highway above the ship prevented many cars from driving on the bridge just before the collapse, likely saving lives.

Hours after the overnight collision, sunrise illuminated the chaos. A massive ship sat in the middle of the Patapsco River and strewn about were pieces of what used to be the 1.6-mile bridge that carried 12.4 million commercial and passenger vehicles in 2023.

Baltimore awoke to the tragedy: states of emergency declared by both the mayor and governor, ongoing prayers and rescue efforts for those missing, and a bridge that had disappeared from the skyline.

First responders search for victims in the remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The massive container ship Dali lost power before colliding with one of the bridge’s support columns early Tuesday. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a support column was struck by a container ship. (Teresa Parrott)

View of collapsed Key Bridge from Stoney Beach. In the foreground is a pier connected to the Brandon Shores power plant. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Jesus Campos, a Brawner Builders construction worker, said his co-workers and friends were on the Key Bridge when it collapsed. Campos said he recently switched shifts, but had been working on the bridge himself before the shifts rotated. (Emily Opilo/Staff)

Residents and media gather to view the collapsed Key Bridge from Stoney Beach, a private community south of the Brandon Shores power plant, at left. (Amy Davis/Staff)

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a support column was struck by a vessel. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

Dozens of reporters and television crews are on the scene at the Maryland Transportation Authority campus this morning after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Staff)

March 26, 2024: William J. DeBagno, Special Agent in charge of the Baltimore Field Office of the FBI, speaks at a news conference this morning on the campus of the Maryland Transportation Authority regarding the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Staff)

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a support column was struck by a vessel. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Senator Chris Van Hollen speaks at a news conference this morning on the Maryland Transportation Authority campus near the collapsed Francis Scott Key bridge. Several local and state officials attended. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Staff)

Emergency boats float around a container ship whose bow received damage after the Francis Scott Key Bridge crumbled onto the vessel and into the Patapsco River following a collision with the structure overnight. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a support column was struck by a container ship. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

Part of the fallen structure of Francis Scott Key Bridge is viewed from press staging area on Authority Drive in Dundalk (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

Mayor Brandon Scott, left, gets a touch up by make-up artist before interview with a news crew after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)

Baltimore mayor Branon Scott, right, talks with Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr., after a news conference about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it was hit by a ship early Tuesday morning. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at a news conference about the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other officials leave a news conference after speaking about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it was hit by a ship early Tuesday morning. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

Maryland Secretary of Transportation Paul Wiedefeld at an early morning news conference after the Key Bridge collapsed after being struck by a ship early Tuesday morning. (Natalie Jones/Staff)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen stand together during a press conference on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday (Kim Hairston/Staff)

Maryland Governor Wes Moore and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg after the press conference where they spoke about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

Maryland Governor Wes Moore speaks about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday. With him is U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, members of the congressional delegation and local leaders. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at a press conference after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday. (Kim Hairston/Staff)

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed overnight after being struck by a ship in the early morning of Tuesday, March 26. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Key Bridge has collapsed due to a ship strike. There is extended closure and officials are asking everyone to avoid the I-695 southeast corridor. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

The Francis Scott Key Bridge lies in ruins in the waters of the Patapsco River after a container ship collided with the structure overnight. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Emergency crews head toward Fort Armistead after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River after a container ship collided with the structure overnight. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Emergency crews head to the exit off of the Baltimore Beltway I-695 from the closed off section where the Francis Scott Key Bridge lies in ruins in the waters of the Patapsco River after a container ship collided with the structure overnight. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

The Maersk container ship Dali and the remains of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge are seen at sunrise Tuesday. The massive container ship was adrift early Tuesday as it headed toward the iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge, losing power before colliding with one of the bridge’s support columns. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

A remaining ramp of the Key Bridge is seen beyond the Dali container ship after the bridge collapsed this morning after the ship hit the bridge. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a support column was struck by a vessel. (Jerry Jasckson/Staff)

Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a support column was struck by a vessel. (Karl Merton Ferron)

Concerned visitors wait for their turn to peer through binoculars toward the Francis Scott Key Bridge which lies in ruins in the waters of the Patapsco River after a container ship collided with the structure overnight. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Fort Armistead Road is closed leading to the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the bridge collapsed when it was hit by a ship early Tuesday morning. (Amy Davis/Staff)

A Coast Guard helicopter over the scene of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore after a it collapsed overnight after being struck by a ship in the early morning of Tuesday, March 26. (Jerry Jackson/Staff)

Tragedy on the bridge

Tuesday was a disheartening, dizzying day of updates and information as Marylanders grasped for reality and authorities pieced together what Mayor Brandon Scott called an “unthinkable tragedy.” Agencies involved ranged from local first responders to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Biden gave a White House address Tuesday afternoon, vowing that the federal government would foot the bill for a new crossing.

“I expect the Congress to support my effort. This is going to take some time, but the people of Baltimore can count on us, though, to stick with it every step of the way until the port is reopened and the bridge is rebuilt,” Biden said.

The Coast Guard deployed four boats, as well as a helicopter, to aid in the search and used sonar and underwater drones as part of rescue efforts. In the predawn darkness, some rescue boats and emergency personnel gathered at the boat ramp in Turner Station Park, nestled in a cove on a tributary of the Patapsco.

Divers battled temperatures, tide and darkness as they searched through water, about 50 feet deep, for vehicles or missing people. The National Data Buoy Center reported water temperatures in that area to be about 49 degrees at 4 a.m. — a dangerously cold temperature.

Lt. Col. Roland Butler, superintendent of the Maryland State Police, said surface ships will be on the river overnight while divers plan to continue the search Wednesday at 6 a.m.

The construction crew on the bridge worked for Brawner Builders, whose executive vice president, Jeffrey Prtizker, said in an evening interview with The Baltimore Sun that six of the company’s employees were “presumed dead.”

“It’s a terrible, terrible, unforeseen tragedy,” he said. “None of us could have imagined this could happen. We are all kind of shocked and distressed.”

The crash immediately drew comparisons to the 1980 collapse of Tampa’s Sunshine Skyway, when a 606-foot freighter collided with a support column amid a storm and destroyed the bridge, killing 35 people.

The total of those feared dead Tuesday in Baltimore might have been worse had more cars been on the bridge at the time of the crash.

“These people are heroes,” Gov. Wes Moore said of police who prevented cars from driving onto the bridge. “They saved lives last night.”

Video from the incident shows the container ship, billowing smoke, colliding with the bridge support and much of the structure quickly collapsing. Just before the crash, the ship’s lights appear to turn on and off multiple times.

A Coast Guard briefing report obtained by The Sun stated that “a harbor pilot and assistant were onboard and reported power issues, multiple alarms on the bridge, and loss of propulsion prior to the incident.” U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin told The Sun in a phone interview that indications point to the vessel losing power, causing it to lose steering.

Scott, the mayor, had given his State of the City address Monday night and was still awake at the time of the collision.

“It looked like something out of an action movie,” he said.

‘A long road ahead’

The collision blinked by in seconds. Its consequences will span years.

All vehicle traffic has been rerouted from the bridge, which is part of the Baltimore Beltway, a key traffic artery. Commuters will be funneled into the two cross-harbor tunnels. But some vehicles — like those transporting hazardous materials — can’t use the tunnels and will have to take the long way around.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Port of Baltimore was still processing trucks inside of its terminals, but vessel traffic into and out of the port was suspended, state Transportation Secretary Paul J Wiedefeld said. The Coast Guard report stated the “Patapsco River channel is fully blocked.”

Sal Mercogliano, a Campbell University professor and former merchant mariner who hosts a YouTube show on shipping, said it could take “weeks, if not months” to clear the channel of bridge debris and open a lane for ships. That will likely have grave consequences on commerce in the region.

“We know that we have a long road ahead, not just in search-and-rescue, but in the fallout from this,” Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said at a news conference.

Dispatchers first reported a possible vehicle in the water at the Key Bridge around 1:40 a.m., according to audio captured by Broadcastify and reviewed by The Sun. About 12 minutes later, a first responder who reached Fort Armistead Park got on the radio, relaying the unfathomable scene in front of him.

“Be advised, the entire bridge — the entire Key Bridge — is in the harbor,” the person said. “The entire Key Bridge has fallen into the harbor.”

Priscilla Thompson, who lives on the water in Dundalk facing the Key Bridge, was awakened in the middle of the night by the horrible sound of crashing steel.

“I really thought it was an earthquake or something because it shook this house so bad,” she said. “It shook it — it really rattled it — for four or five seconds.”

“And then, it got real quiet,” she said.

Jesus Campos is an employee of Brawner Builders, the company with a crew on the bridge when it collapsed. He used to work on the bridge team, but was recently switched to a different shift.

“I could have been there like my co-workers,” he said in Spanish through a translator.

Investigating a disaster

Those who have seen video of the crash can see that something went awry. The ship appears to lose power, it emits smoke, it crashes. But what exactly went wrong will take time to investigate.

Before ships leave the dock, they typically undergo a series of tests to ensure they are seaworthy. When asked whether Dali had any major deficiencies before taking off, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said “it’s much too early” to tell.

“That is part of our investigation — where we look, in-depth, at safety information,” she said.

The ship was under the operation of a local pilot, as is required by Maryland law, to guide it through the port. The pilot will undergo drug and alcohol testing as part of the investigation.

But, unlike the Ever Forward incident in 2022 — in which a pilot distracted by his cellphone contributed to the grounding of a container ship in the Chesapeake Bay — the incident appears to be one caused by mechanical, not human error, said Mercogliano, the former merchant mariner. Without power, the pilot and crew would have been unable to navigate, he said.

“When the power goes out — the worst feeling you can have on a ship as a sailor is everything gets quiet,” Mercogliano told The Sun. “That’s the worst. Because that’s the clear sign that everything is about to go wrong.”

All of the ship’s 22 Indian crew members and the two pilots aboard have been “accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries,” according to a statement from Dali’s owners and managers.

According to maritime tracking websites Vessel Finder and MarineTraffic, Dali was built in 2015 and had arrived in Baltimore from Norfolk, Virginia. It left the Port of Baltimore around 1 a.m., about a half-hour before the collision.

Dali previously collided with a platform, known as a quay, while leaving the Port of Antwerp in Belgium in July 2016, according to VesselFinder. That caused significant damage to its hull, and it was docked for repairs before returning to duty.

A database of shipping inspections by authorities across the globe indicated that Dali’s most recent inspection, by the Coast Guard in September, reported no deficiencies, according to the data compiled by Equasis, a maritime safety website. The inspection before that was conducted June 27 at the port of San Antonio in Chile and found one deficiency related to “propulsion and auxiliary machinery” such as “gauges, thermometers, etc.” according to Equasis.

Clear Video of Traffic movement on Bridge before hit by a ship At least 20 vehicles were on the bridge. #keybridge #baltimore #Ship #FrancisScottKeyBridge #bridgecollapse #USA #BREAKINGNEWS #Baltimore #Maryland #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/NkH36hQ8Qp — Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) March 26, 2024

As for the bridge itself, which opened in 1977 after five years of construction, Federal Highway Administration records indicate the bridge had been considered in “good” or “fair” condition going back at least three decades. A 2023 Maryland Transportation Authority inspection found the bridge to be in “overall satisfactory condition.”

Moore said the bridge was “fully up to code” and Benjamin W. Schafer, a Johns Hopkins professor of structural and civil engineering who reviewed video of the incident, said he didn’t see anything that immediately stood out as a “red flag” in regard to the bridge’s structural integrity. He called the collapse “more of an acute event.”

The bridge had two supports holding it up; if you take one away, “it’s not a bridge anymore,” he told The Sun.

A landmark, all but vanished

For residents long accustomed to the Key Bridge, named for the Marylander who wrote the lyrics for “The Star-Spangled Banner,” on the horizon, it was difficult to vocalize their shock.

Thompson, whose backyard looked out onto the bridge, teared up as she gazed at the wreckage as the sun rose. A treasured landmark had all but vanished, likely taking lives with it.

Nearby, Ralph Richards, of Dundalk, reminisced on watching the bridge’s construction as a child living near the waterfront. In disbelief, the 60-year-old studied the place where the bridge once stood.

“To see a blank spot? It reaches in and rips something out,” he said.

This article will be updated. Baltimore Sun Media staff Jeff Barker, Darcy Costello, Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Hannah Gaskill, Sam Janesch, Natalie Jones, Lorraine Mirabella, Emily Opilo, Jonathan M. Pitts, Angela Roberts, Dillon Mullan and Lia Russell contributed to this article.

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