Guardian:

Charleston bridge closed as out-of-control ship powers through harbor

Police cleared traffic and pedestrians from bridge as cargo ship went nearly full throttle through South Carolina harbor

The Arthur Ravenel Jr Bridge over the Cooper River in South Carolina, connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant

Thu 6 Jun 2024 21.52 AEST

A large cargo ship lost control of its engines and went nearly full throttle through a South Carolina harbor, prompting the closure of one of the busiest bridges in the state.

The incident comes after an out-of-control cargo ship smashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on 26 March after losing power, bringing the span down and killing six construction workers.

Harbor pilots in Charleston on Wednesday were able to help the nearly 1,000ft (300-meter) ship, which was going nearly 20mph (32km/h), get under the Ravenel Bridge safely and eventually anchor several miles offshore while the Coast Guard investigates, said Randy Preston, commander of the US Coast Guard’s Charleston section.

Police cleared traffic, cyclists and pedestrians from the eight-lane bridge before the ship arrived, keeping it closed for 10 minutes as the Michigan 7 steamed underneath, authorities said.

The only damage was caused by the giant ship’s wake, which knocked aground a small boat and caused minor injuries to two people, Preston said.

The ship is registered in Liberia to Mediterranean Shipping Company, which did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. It was heading to Savannah, Georgia, from Charleston’s port.