Another massive cargo ship loses control while leaving an American harbor — this time halted before bridge



A massive container ship attempting to leave the waters around New York City Friday reportedly suffered a similar issue to that experienced by the vessel that tragically brought the historic Francis Scott Key Bridge crashing into Baltimore Harbor late last month.

Unlike the Singapore-flagged Dali, the propulsion problem suffered by the APL Qingdao did not ultimately prove to be calamitous.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to the New York Post that the APL Qingdao, a 1,145-foot, 89,000-ton ship flying under the Malta flag, lost propulsion around 8:30 p.m. while sailing along the shipping lane between Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey.

According to John Konrad, a maritime journalist and the CEO of gCaptain, the three tugboats that had been escorting the ship down the 3-mile Kill Van Kull waterway were aided by another three in an effort to bring the ship under control.

The ship subsequently dropped anchor just north of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

BREAKING: A NY tugboat captain has reported to @gCaptain \u201ccontainer ship APL QINGDAO lost power while transiting New York harbor. They had 3 escort tugs but 3 more were needed to bring her under control. They regained power & were brought to anchor near the verrazano bridge\u201d
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"Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service New York received a report from the M/V APL Qingdao around 8:30pm, Friday, that the vessel had experienced a loss of propulsion in the Kill Van Kull waterway," the Coast Guard said in a statement obtained by the Post.

"The vessel regained propulsion and was assisted to safely anchor in Stapleton Anchorage, outside of the navigable channel just north of the Verrazano Bridge, by three towing vessels," continued the statement. "These towing vessels were escorting the vessel as a routine safety measure, which is a common practice for large vessels departing their berth."

Prior to leaving, the crew had to submit a casualty report accounting for what caused the loss of power. CBS News noted that repairs were also made to the ship's system following the incident.

At the time of publication, VesselFinder indicated that the ship had successfully made its way out of the New York harbor and was nearing its destination of Norfolk, Virginia.

Staten Island Assemblyman Charles Fall (D) told SILive.com, "While the swift response by tugboats to secure the vessel prevented immediate harm, this incident further highlights the urgent need for comprehensive safety reviews of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the Goethals Bridge, the Bayonne Bridge, and the Outerbridge Crossing."

"The recent disaster at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland is a harrowing reminder of what could happen if we fail to prioritize the integrity of our infrastructure," added Fall.

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse
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Two weeks after power outages and a propulsion problem allegedly sent the container ship Dali crashing into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, divers continue to search for bodies. At least six people are believed to be dead.

Officials announced Friday that they had recovered the body of a third victim, 38-year-old Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, reported the Independent.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated that a new channel will be ready for use by month's end, enabling ships to enter and leave the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) told CBS News' "Face the Nation" that maritime operations in the Port of Baltimore could be functional as early as May.

March was apparently a bad month for American bridges and boats.

A bridge over the Arkansas River south of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was also struck by a boat late last month. Despite a powerful thwacking sound, there was minimal damage and no casualties.

The Associated Press reported that a barge struck a pier holding Highway 59 over the river on March 30. After a brief road closure, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation indicated that the structure was subsequently deemed sound by engineers and safe to transit.

Barge crashes into the Arkansas River Bridge in Oklahoma
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Terrifying videos capture moment Japan was hit by lethal 7.6 magnitude earthquake



Japan rang in the new year with tsunami alarms after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked the country's west coast Monday afternoon. Even though the colossal waves never came, the destruction on the Noto Peninsula in the central prefecture of Ishikawa was nevertheless extensive.

Scores of lives have been confirmed lost. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to smoldering rubble. Thousands on the Noto Peninsula proceed into 2024 homeless.

Despite the enduring aftershocks affecting the region, efforts are now underway to locate additional survivors in the ruins.

The Japanese office overseeing disaster prevention indicated Monday that a 7.6-magnitude earthquake centered in Noto shook the western coast. The Japan Meteorological Agency assigned the quake a seismic intensity rating of seven — the highest possible.

The U.S. Geological Survey indicated that the primary quake was the most powerful the west coast had seen since 1970.

As 2024 begins, our \xf0\x9f\x92\x94s go out to those affected by Japan\xe2\x80\x99s M7.5 quake. Despite Japan\xe2\x80\x99s active plate boundaries, large quakes on the west coast of Honshu are rarer than the east coast. Since 1970, no M7+ quakes are on record within 155 mi/250 km of today\xe2\x80\x99s quake.
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The quake was preceded by a report of a similarly strong tremor in the area and has been followed since by dozens of lesser quakes in the area of magnitudes of up to 5.7 on the Richter scale. The JMA suggested that sporadic aftershocks nearly as strong as the initial quake could strike for up to a week.

Officials advised residents to evacuate "to even higher ground wherever possible" and to expect high and repeated tsunami waves. While waves as high as four feet were reported following the quake, the region was spared the kind of behemothic waves Japan suffered following the March 2011 8.9-magnitude quake in the country's northeast.

While the JMA has downgraded its tsunami alerts to advisories, the agency continues to stress the importance of exercising caution near or around the coast.

Footage captured by a motorist in one of the affected areas shows a river slosh side to side as the earth around it quakes.

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Another video shows a subway station tremble as commuters brace for the worst.

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Effect of the earthquake that hit Central Japan today: roads cracking and pavements rising.\n\n[\xf0\x9f\x93\xb9 mmmin726]
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Drone footage documenting the aftermath in Wajima City, Japan, obtained by Reuters, shows smoldering ruins, flattened neighborhoods, beached boats, and toppled multi-story buildings.

Aerial images reveal the extent of the destruction caused by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck central Japan on Monday https://t.co/keiE0EocsV
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While the Asian nation's infrastructure is largely built to withstand the earthquakes common around the seismically-active Pacific Ring of Fire, tens of thousands of homes were nevertheless destroyed by the quake, which also shut down water, cell phone service, and power in various areas.

Authorities in the devastated city of Wajima, seen in the drone footage, received reports of at least 30 collapsed buildings and noted firefighters had battled blazes well into the night.

As of Tuesday, officials confirmed at least 48 people were dead and 16 were seriously injured in Ishikawa, reported the Associated Press.

The Japanese government indicated Monday evening that it had ordered over 97,000 people in nine prefectures on the west coast to evacuate, reported Reuters.

According to the New York Times, Japan's Nuclear Regulatory Agency indicated that while a fire had broken out in a transformer at the Shika power plant in Shikawa, there were no signs of abnormalities at its radioactivity monitoring stations.

The Shika plant had shut down its two reactors prior to the quake for regular inspections.

Various governments around the world expressed their sympathies and support for the Japanese people.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel wrote, "We are saddened to see the damage caused by the earthquake that occurred this afternoon near Ishikawa, Japan. Our thoughts are with those who have been impacted across the region."

Emanuel further indicated that the U.S. government and American military in Japan have offered their full support and are ready to provide aid to the affected communities.

President Joe Biden said in a statement, "As close Allies, the United States and Japan share a deep bond of friendship that unites our people. Our thoughts are with the Japanese people during this difficult time."

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Watch: Pillar supposedly holding up roller coaster is clearly severed at the top, shifting every time a train whips by



The Fury 325 roller coaster at Carowinds amusement park in Charlotte, North Carolina, is touted as the "tallest, fastest, longest giga coaster in North America." It whips the daring down 1.25 miles of track and up 325 feet into the air at speeds of up to 95 mph for well over three minutes.

It suffices to say the ride was originally built to take the thrill seeker's breath away. However, a park visitor with a keen eye noticed Friday that the ride as it now stands is poised to take a great deal more away from riders.

The New York Times reported that Jeremy Wagner, visiting the park with his daughter, son, and niece Friday, observed a massive crack in the coaster's pillar and captured it on camera.

"I was trying to shoot the video, and my hands were shaking because I knew how quick this could be catastrophic," said Wagner, who noted his 14-year-old daughter had already been on the ride eight times that day.

The park claims to inspect its rides daily, but had allegedly neglected to report or acknowledge the chasm between the support pillar and the joint holding the track in place, reported the Charlotte Observer.

Wagner told CNN that his thinking at the time was, "I'm not an engineer, but that's not right."

Wagner's video shows the two sections of the pillar part ways as a train whips by with riders.

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Wagner turned over the footage of the ostensibly free-floating coaster curve to park officials and later learned they had shut down the ride.

Shelby resident Tiffany Collins Newton posted a photograph taken on June 24, which appears to show the beginnings of the fracture.

"I just hope this leads to MORE inspections and extensive safety checks in the future," wrote Newton, who hadn't noticed the detail until prompted by the news of Fury's closure.

Courney Weber, a spokesman for the park, told the Observer, "The park’s maintenance team is conducting a thorough inspection, and the ride will remain closed until repairs have been completed. ... Safety is our top priority, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our valued guests during this process."

Fox News Digital indicated that state investigators scrutinized the ride on Monday.

Tommy Petty, chief of the state Department of Labor's Amusement Device Bureau, did not reveal what investigators had found, but confirmed that they "already came and went."

The agency said in a statement, "We will be able to make a full assessment and provide further information as it becomes available. Safety always has been and always will be our top priority."

It's been a particularly bad couple of weeks for roller coaster fans.

TheBlaze previously reported that the Jetline roller coaster at Gröna Lund park in Stockholm, Sweden, went off the rails on June 25, killing one rider and injuring several others.

The Jetline travels at 55.9 mph, pulls 4.5 g, hits a height of 90 feet, and runs a track length of just over 2,624 feet.

The front car separated from the train, then came to an abrupt halt, sending its passengers crashing to the ground some 26 feet below.

The independent accredited inspections company Dekra allegedly examined the ride at the beginning of June, noting, "Result: No flaws. Offers reassuring safety."

A roller coaster at the Forest County Festival in Crandon, Wisconsin, got stuck upside down Sunday, leaving thrill seekers helpless and inverted for three hours until emergency responders could extract them, reported WJFW.

According to Capt. Brennan Cook of the Crandon Fire Department, "The ride was recently inspected by the state of Wisconsin here on site, and at this time we don’t have any other information."

Here is what the shuttered Fury 325 looks from a rider's point of view:

Fury 325 Official On-Ride POV youtu.be

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