Saddened

  The rescue operation has ended. Sadly at least six are presumed dead following the bridge collapse. It's an amazing thing that number isn't much higher. I realize that is no consolation to those that have lost a loved one. Every effort was made to locate any possible survivors, it just wasn't possible. Now the focus is shifting to recovery. Other than the rebuilding of the bridge itself, the economic impact is being talked about. Many jobs will be lost, no ships no need for workers. I'm certain it will be quite some time before any sense of normalcy will return. 

 Already on social media the marine experts are in abundance along with structural engineers of all types talking about the design faults of the bridge. Experts are saying the bridge was too old.  There should have been bumpers in the water and pillars to deflect any run away ship from hitting the pillars. All the "experts" are genius after the fact. There are, of course, the conspiracy people. It's the Chinese, it's the Russians. it's the drug cartels! Some are saying it is a plot by Joe Bidens administration. Some say Trump is to blame in some fashion. 

 Today the NTSB is going to board the ship, amazing to me that they didn't do that immediately to collect information. But today they will board the ship and recover the "black box" that records all the vital information regarding the operation of the ship. There is a different name for that device, I don't recall what they said, but it should provide answers. I'll add my speculation to the mix and say it was simply a mechanical failure of some type, an accident. Now I will say I'm certain they will comb through maintenance records and discover some deficiencies. In my twenty year career in the Navy, in the engineering department, every inspection performed found deficiencies. It is the job of someone to conduct the inspection. If you are that individual, you can't simply write, no deficiency exists! If you do someone is going to say, you weren't looking! All I'm going to say is there are times when something simply fails. You could inspect it today and have a failure tomorrow. 

 It is a tragic accident. There was a bridge in Florida that suffered a collapse under similar circumstances in 1980. Do any of you remember that? I certainly didn't and thirty five lives were lost in that one. It was caused by a navigation error as the ship was lost in the fog. That was forty four years ago. My point being, accidents happen, and we shouldn't rush to judgement about the cause. All this "if we had" following this tragedy does nothing. It is impossible to prevent every accident. But I suppose it is human nature to want to place the blame somewhere. 

 There was a lawyer being interviewed on the news that was talking about litigation for this accident, that someone had to be held accountable financially. And that was the focus, the financial responsibility. His feeling being the United States will have to sue whoever is the owner/underwriter of that ship. It could take years to recover the financial loses. Sadly, I'm certain many lawyers will be in contact with family members wanting to take their "case" and sue someone, anyone to recover some form of compensation. Yes, it will be, you may be entitled to compensation! If you are afraid to drive on a bridge in Maryland, you may be entitled to compensation.