Close Call in Charleston Evokes Baltimore Bridge Disaster

A nearly 1,000-foot container ship lost control as it sped toward a bridge in Charleston, South Carolina last week in a close call that evoked Baltimore’s bridge collapse just over two months ago.

Shortly after noon on June 5, the MSC Michigan’s pilot notified authorities that the vessel had lost control of its engines while leaving North Charleston on the Cooper River, heading for Savannah.

The ship was traveling at 14 to 17 knots with the throttles “near full forward, and couldn’t be moved out of that position,” US Coast Guard Sector Charleston Deputy Commander Randy Preston said at a press conference after the incident.