The summary of ‘Why Did Dali Lose Power in Baltimore? | NTSB Releases Preliminary Report’

The video discusses the NTSB's preliminary report on the motor vessel Dolly losing power and the subsequent blackout incident, which led to various equipment failures and impacts on vessel operations. It highlights the complex electrical power distribution system on the ship, the emergency response measures taken by the crew, and the crucial role of the main engine in propulsion. The crew's actions to restore power, the impact of the blackout on steering and propulsion, and the eventual collision with Pier number 17 of the Key Bridge are detailed. The investigation focuses on understanding why the main breakers tripped and the challenges in restoring power, emphasizing technical issues rather than cyber threats. The importance of swift actions, communication, and crew coordination in ensuring the safety of the vessel and crew is underscored throughout.

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the host discusses the NTSB’s preliminary report on the motor vessel Dolly losing power when leaving the Port of Baltimore. The report is detailed but does not pinpoint the exact cause of the power outage. The vessel had a recent detonation incident and is being salvaged with a ballasted bow to maintain stability. The ship’s main engine is critical for propulsion and automatically shuts down in case of issues with lubricating oil or cooling water pump due to loss of electrical power from diesel generators. Analogously, like a car without electricity cannot run, the vessel’s main engine shuts down without power.

00:05:00

In this segment of the video, the focus is on the doll’s electrical power distribution system on a ship. The ship has four diesel generators, with two pairs rated differently. The generators are connected to high voltage and low voltage switchboards through transformers. The high voltage board powers shipboard equipment like lubricating oil pumps and bow thrusters. During an incident where the ship hits a bridge, the importance of the bow thruster is discussed. The generators can be connected in pairs, and in this case, generators three and four are engaged while generator two is not. The high voltage and low voltage switchboards are tied together, running off generators three and four. The low voltage bus powers vessel lights and pumps. The emergency generator is not currently tied into the system.

00:10:00

In this segment of the video, it is discussed how a ship lost power after generators three and four supplied electrical power to the vessel but high voltage systems did not receive power, affecting lubrication and engine operation. The ship maneuvered with reduced steering due to the emergency generator engagement. Details about the ship’s movements with tugboats, steering pumps online, and engine speed prior to power loss are provided. Breakers hr1 and lr1 tripped, causing a sudden power loss and equipment failure, including the main engine. Generators continued to run but most bridge equipment lost power, impacting the vessel data recorder.

00:15:00

In this part of the video, the main points highlighted include:

– The primary electrical breakers unexpectedly open, leading to a blackout on the ship.
– The main propulsion diesel engine shuts down due to loss of electrical power, causing the ship’s engine to stop and the propeller to come to a halt.
– The loss of electrical power affects the steering pumps, rendering the rudder unable to move properly.
– There is a difference between the ship’s heading and its actual course overground due to external factors like wind and current.
– The emergency generator starts, providing power to emergency lighting, navigation, radio equipment, and other essential systems.
– The pilot dispatcher swiftly calls for tug assist and notifies authorities after the ship loses power, ultimately contributing to saving lives on board.

00:20:00

In this segment of the video, it is discussed how the crew of the Dolly’s vessel was able to restore electrical power after an initial blackout but then faced a second blackout due to tripped generators. The crew managed to manually close Breaker hr2 and LR2, regaining electrical power before the vessel struck the pier, preventing further damage. The Dolly struck Pier number 17 of the Key Bridge at 6.5 knots, causing multiple bridge spans to collapse. Crew members sustained injuries, and one worker was rescued by an mdta police boat. The report indicates that the vessel had experienced a blackout prior to the incident due to a crew member mistakenly closing an inline engine exhaust damper, leading to engine stall and subsequent electrical issues.

00:25:00

In this segment of the video, the crew reopened generator 2’s exhaust damper, causing it to automatically restart and connect to the bus. The vessel’s configuration was switched to Transformer number one after running on the second transformer for months. Mechanical blocking of exhaust gas caused the import blackout, not fuel-related issues. The crew underwent alcohol and drug testing after the accident, with all tests returning negative. The ship carried different types of fuel, none of which were damaged during the incident. Fuel samples matched the type used during the accident, prompting questions about fuel quality. The generators did not malfunction during the incident.

00:30:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses a ship incident involving electrical or control issues that caused the ship to lose power. They focus on determining why the main breakers tripped, the delay in getting power from the emergency generator, and the subsequent blackout. The speaker emphasizes that this was not a computer hack but rather a technical problem related to local controls and electrical management. The NTSB will investigate further to understand the root cause of the incident. The speaker, although not an engineer, tries to explain the complex marine engineering aspects in a simplified manner for viewers. They encourage subscribing to the channel for updates and support.