marine voyage planner

Sea route & distance

find start port:

find destination port:

start typing to see the suggestions

Distance: nautical miles

time at sea

Paste link in email:

© 2010-2023 Ports.com

You are either using a browser that does not support JavaScript, or you have disabled JavaScript. OpenSeaMap uses JavaScript for its maps.

VAR 3.5°5'E (2015)

ANNUAL DECREASE 8'

• Map with JOSM Remote

• Tidal Scale
• Aerial photo
• Coordinate Grid
• Elevation Profile
• Marine Profile (1:920.000)
• Marine Traffic
• Compass Rose
• Depth contours (beta)

• Water depth

• OpenCPN (Kap)
• Navico (Lowrance, Simrad, B&G)

• Trip Planner

• Bridges/Locks

Sea route calculator

A very quick sea route calculator showing you the distance in nautical miles from any of the vessels AIS position to any port. Find the shortest route, ETA, days in sea, bunker ports along the route and estimated bunker consumption.  Save and share the routes.

Add ECA, SECA zones, (IMO and local zones), daily updated marine weather, piracy info and sea ice conditions to your route.

Calculate from a port, to any ports, with several port options or consecutive ports.

A very quick sea route calculator for laptops and mobiles

The sea route calculator is available in both products; ShipAtlas and ShipIntel. It will give you the shortest route from any vessel's AIS position in the map to any port or combination of ports, and find the distance, time and ETA. You can also route between ports. If you want to change the route on web; click and drag the route (same as you do in Google maps), and the route will quickly be re-calculated.

Why use this Sea Route Calculator?

The technology Since there are no roads at sea, we have been using many different technologies while developing the Sea Route Calculator. We have created a network of triangles, visibility graphs, machine learning and other technologies. Then we have added information about canals and straits constrains to avoid routing vessels through canals if they are too large for the canal constrains. We have also added AIS tracks for different type and size of vessels to find where the different type of vessels have been sailing in the past. ‍ Thus this Sea Route Planner is not a navigational tool for navigators. The pitch Might be the only sea route calculator able to route from any vessel's AIS position to any port on mobile and web super quickly and accurate FOR FREE and gives you the ETA, days at sea and bunker consumption. You can compare the ShipAtlas sea route calculator with any other sea route calculators there are. ‍ You can add bunker ports available along the route, find canal constrains and do consecutive sea routes. You can route several vessels to one port, and find when they will arrive (ETA), and you can find alternative routes for one vessel to reach a specific port. You can save sea routes. We will continue to invest in the sea route calculator since a sea route should be one of the backbone features in any maritime software.

Mobile and laptop Use the sea route calculator from your laptop or mobile device and find time in sea, ETA first port, distance in nautical miles, bunker consumption, from any of the vessels AIS position. Turn on the marine weather forecast layer if you want to estimate delay due to bad weather. The weather is updated every 24th hour with a 15 days forecast. Turn on the ECA / SECA zone layer and find the bunker consumption. The sea route calculator is excellent for cases such as: your vessel is en route to Tubarao, and your broker asks if your vessel can go to Madre de Deus instead and when she will arrive. You can calculate the sea distance from any of the vessel’s position to any ports to find the deviation time from the vessels existing position, and the ETA to the possible new destination. Click on the vessel and the sea route calculator icon on the vessel card. On web you can click and drag the line to add waypoints or alternative routes (just as you do in Google maps).

Combine layers of information with the sea route calculator

You can add the layers of information you prefer like, and here are some of the layers you can combine with the Sea Route Calculator: 

• Daily updated marine weather layers (wind, currents, perception, waves) and a 15 days forecast for wind, perception.
• Daily updated piracy information.
• Daily updated ice conditions.
• ECA / SECA zones (local and IMO defined zones).
• Switch between default maps and satellite mode.  
• Access information about canal constrains (draft, LOA and beam). If your vessel is bigger, we will route her the shortest way around.
• Add bunker ports and learn where you find bunkers available, bunker grades and prices. We daily update the bunker information.
• Add Polar codes, Load Line or International Navigating Limits (INL).

Click on the layers you add and find detailed information about the specific layer.

The Sea Route Calculator is a backbone of our software products

We have a dedicated team working with the sea route calculation so while you are getting familiar with the sea route calculator, we will continue improving it and make it even smarter. We will add more features and layers of information to solve more user cases, and we will make sure it is super responsive on all your devices.

Available on desktop and mobile

An application you just love to use!

We are dedicated to developing ShipAtlas based on user feedback, so your feedback is highly welcomed.

We invest in having active and happy users, and we want to make it easy to reach us. So we are here to answer your questions, listen to your feedback and support you almost 24/7.

If you have ideas or wishes, want to propose improvements, or find bugs, please send us a chat so we can discuss.

Information

Helpful links.

A Guide to Voyage Planning

Voyage planning, or passage planning, is a complex operation regulated by the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention, the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) convention, and other International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines for onboard vessels trading internationally. Voyage planning is a process that helps optimize ship routes, maintain crew safety, and coordinate traffic in and out of busy ports and harbors. 

Voyage planning takes an average of 3.5 hours per vessel, according to Maritime Executive . There are many factors to consider during voyage planning, as well as steps required by IMO regulations to ensure each voyage is as safe as possible. 

Steps in ship voyage planning

Regulations require shipping companies to complete ship voyage planning in four stages . These are:

First, ship voyage planners — usually the master of the ship and the chief navigating officer — discuss how they plan to get from point A to point B. This includes gathering all information relevant to the passage, evaluating different routes, and pinpointing areas in the voyage where there might be bad weather or other risks. The appraisal stage will consider things such as: 

• Ocean passages around the world 
• Routing charts
• Admiralty Sailing Directions, List of Lights and Fog Signals, and List of Radio Signals
• Tide tables
• Notices to mariners
• Navigational warnings
• Owners and other sources
• Personal experience

With input from the master of the ship, company guidelines, cargo data, and weather information, the navigating officer will come up with an initial route for the ship to follow. 

Next, the Officer of the Watch (OOW) prepares a more detailed plan based on the initial route mapped out in the appraisal process. This detailed plan is laid out from port to port, with areas like wrecks, reefs, shallow water, and emergency stopping points included. This phase will also take into account, among other things: 

• No-go areas
• Margins of safety
• Charted tracks
• Course alterations and wheel over points
• Tides and current
• Change in engine status
• Use of Echo Sounder
• Natural transit

Contingency planning and aborts — positions in which there is no possible option but to proceed — are especially important to note in this phase. Contingency planning will include alternative routes , safe anchorages, waiting areas, emergency berths.

The voyage begins and navigating officers use the plan prepared by the OOW. With Sofar Ocean's Wayfinder, seabound captains can make real-time speed and route adjustments based on changing atmospheric and oceanographic conditions. The routing optimizer evaluates over 100 million routing options based on the latest forecast insight to deliver the safest and most profitable route directly to the ship masters and fleet operations staff.

[Read more: How Maritime Weather Forecasting Minimizes Risks in Shipping Operations ] 

Wayfinder calculates the path of least resistance across the ocean, ensuring low fuel consumption, on-time arrival, shipshape operations, and crew safety. It determines the optimal speed and route path for any  vessel given its dimensions, with capabilities to monitor fleet compliance.

The final required phase of voyage planning is monitoring, checking the position of the ship to ensure it remains a safe distance from danger areas. If the ship’s navigating officer decides that it’s necessary to deviate from the planned route, he or she must inform the master and take precautions to ensure ship and crewmember safety. Good communication is needed during this phase, as well as experience, the right data, and personal judgment. 

Challenges of ship voyage planning

Voyage planning is a complex, labor-intensive process that requires intense attention to detail. Repetitive manual input can lead to human error: “Multiplied across vessels, companies and fleets, [voyage planning] can show inefficiency, for an industry where optimal resource use and cost savings are now more important than ever,” noted one expert . 

Ship voyage planning also needs to account for a number of factors: from shipping deadlines, to weather forecasts, to cargo and crew safety, to fuel costs and route optimization. Some of these priorities can directly conflict, as the safest route may not be the fastest. Vessel parameters, such as ship size, draft, beam, and length also play a role in voyage planning. 

Manually planning a ship route introduces weather and climate uncertainties many captains at sea are unwilling to accept. With the impacts of climate change compounding into increasingly extreme conditions, keeping operations on the high seas efficient requires real time ocean data, and lots of it. Wayfinder uses the combined sensing and predictive capabilities of a planetary-scale network of ocean devices to help seafarers make more informed decisions at sea with access to the best weather forecasts. ‍ Wayfinder helps vessel voyage planners optimize safety and savings in one easy-to-use platform. To learn more about Wayfinder, start a Sea Trial .

Related Stories

• Ports Distances
• Voyage Calculator

Port of Departure

Port of arrival.

Not calculated yet.

DESCRIPTION

SEA DISTANCES / PORT DISTANCES - online tool for calculation distances between sea ports.

More than 4.000.000 distances

More than 4000 sea ports.

Optimise voyage and speed behaviour as well as port stays.

Voyage optimisation

Shore-side web module to conduct voyage planning (and re-planning), taking commercial considerations into account -- connection to Navi-Port.

Key benefits

• Lower operational cost
• Higher process efficiency
• Transparency on fuel efficiency
• Charter market attractiveness
• Satisfying operator requirements
• Seamlessly connected to onboard system

Key features

• Planning: Combination of safety and efficiency-based routing (including fuel consumption forecast), integrated processes onboard / ashore
• Execution: Real-time visibility and notifications of route-voyage order execution.
• Automatic exchange of berth availability and RTA information between port and vessel ECDIS. Using new STM standard.
• Post voyage analysis and benchmarking of vessels, routes, and ports. Fuel consumption breakdown to speed, route, port waiting time and weather.

Voyage Optimiser tool

Simplify decision-making with advanced algorithms that enhance route efficiency and fuel consumption, while monitoring voyage progress. Embrace informed voyage planning with ease.

Learn more about the tool

Complete voyage control on one screen

FOS brings vessel, manager, operator, and port together on a transparent, collaborative platform to control the whole voyage while fostering safety, awareness, and efficiency. Learn how FOS can take your voyage planning to the next-level – Check out this video.

Related content

Related solutions

Hand-picked press releases

Wärtsilä partners with Veracity by DNV to streamline Anglo-Eastern’s reporting

Anglo-Eastern enhances fleet performance using Wärtsilä’s integrated CII tool

Carisbrooke Shipping significantly reduces CO2 emissions with Wärtsilä’s fleet optimisation solution

• Privacy notice
• Cookie notice
• Terms of Use

Sperry Marine

Integrated bridge systems, ecdis, radar, compass systems, search form.

• Northrop Grumman

                 ,                   voyage planning,                                         powered by navtor, the voyage planning application is the ultimate route planning tool, designed to provide the safest, most secure and economically efficient route. it is designed to remove administrative workload from the navigator, providing all the route planning tools required to make a comprehensive passage plan in one application..

To simplify the passage planning process, all digital navigational data is integrated for optimal on-screen presentation where navigators can grab, swipe and manoeuvre ‘layers’ to create the passage plan. The system can automatically plan the route and compare navigation data to ensure full safety from berth to berth. Consequently, the huge number of hours wasted on administration and the risk of human error during manual planning can be reduced.

This is an integrated solution – once the plan is complete, the verified and approved routes are securely transferred via Connected ECDIS to the front of the bridge.

Cyber security protocols are enforced by Sperry Marine’s Secure Maritime Gateway (SMG) which uses multiple firewalls and a ‘demilitarised zone’ as a staging post between front and back of bridge to ensure there is no direct connection between the navigation systems and the ship’s main IT network providing a higher level of cyber security of navigation data.

Voyage Planning is deployed and managed through the SperrySphere Smart Navigation Platform . This is a one-stop-shop back-of-bridge digital platform which manages delivery of a wide variety of applications enabling improved levels of  cyber secure, safer, greener and more efficient navigation.

Key benefits:

• Automated passage planning for safe and efficient navigation
• Eliminates hours of administrative workload and reduces paperwork
• Chart status and passage plan are always compliant and available for inspection
• Securely integrated with ECDIS
• One stop shop digital navigation from Sperry Marine
• Roadmap to new Digital services

Related Products

Related brochures.

United States

Netherlands

ACU-150 & ACU-400 product recall

Voyage Planner Manuals

Find all of the latest Voyage Planner manuals here.

Find your nearest Raymarine dealer

Search Raymarine’s global network of sales and service dealers here.

• Find A School
• Certifications
• North U Sail Trim
• Inside Sailing with Peter Isler
• Docking Made Easy
• Study Quizzes
• Bite-sized Lessons
• Fun Quizzes
• Sailing Challenge

Charting Seas and Dreams: Jimmy Cornell’s Lifetime of Sailing Adventure & Essential Voyage Planning Insights

By: Zeke Quezada, ASA American Sailing , Cruising Tips , Elearn , Inside Sailing , online course , Safety , Sailing History

Jimmy Cornell: A Lifetime of Sailing Adventure

Jimmy Cornell is a legend in sailing; his name is synonymous with daring voyages, meticulous planning, and a deep respect for the sea. With three circumnavigations under his belt, including voyages to remote regions like Antarctica and the Northwest Passage, Cornell’s sailing career is a testament to his passion for adventure and commitment to safety and preparation.

Jimmy sat down with American Sailing for an interview before his online class on voyage planning . Cornell reflected on his remarkable journey and shared insights into the changing landscape of sailing, emphasizing the importance of voyage planning, safety, and adaptation in today’s maritime environment.

A Childhood Dream Realized

Cornell’s fascination with sailing traces back to his earliest memories of wearing a sailor’s suit at age three or four. Growing up under a communist regime in Romania, sailing was forbidden, but a chance encounter with the book Kon-Tiki ignited Cornell’s determination to pursue a life at sea. After settling in London and learning to sail with the BBC yacht club, Cornell embarked on his first world voyage with his wife and two young children, setting the stage for a lifelong love affair with the ocean.

Voyage Planning in a Changing World

Cornell’s upcoming online class with American Sailing focuses on voyage planning in the face of climate change. Cornell explains, “One of the most noticeable phenomena is the gradual decrease in the regularity and reliability of trade winds, as witnessed by sailors on some of the frequently traveled ocean routes.”

Cornell emphasizes the need for careful planning and awareness of changing conditions to ensure safe passage in today’s maritime environment. Safety remains paramount in Cornell’s approach to sailing. He advises sailors to avoid critical areas during tropical storm seasons and to maintain a cautious mindset when planning voyages. By staying informed and vigilant, sailors can minimize risks while pursuing their sailing dreams.

“I wish to stress that caution lies at the heart of voyage planning, and by being aware of these changing circumstances, as well as the greatly improved reliability of long-term weather forecasts, it is still possible to plan a safe voyage even in these changing times.” Jimmy Cornell

Common Misconceptions in Voyage Planning

Cornell dispels common misconceptions among sailors, stressing the importance of traditional navigation methods alongside modern technology. He advocates for using paper charts and pilot charts in voyage planning, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach combining old and new techniques.

“You cannot plan a long ocean passage on an iPad or iPhone screen. You need a small-scale paper chart to see not only the details of your planned route but also possible detours and alternatives” Jimmy Cornell

Cornell’s book, “ World Cruising Routes ,” is a comprehensive resource for long-distance voyagers, offering invaluable insights into global sailing routes. Inspired by his own experiences, Cornell continues to update and expand the book to meet the evolving needs of modern sailors.

“When I started planning my first voyage, the only suitable voyage planning publication was “Ocean Passages for the World.” Its first edition was published in 1895, and even the latest 1973 edition was still focused on sailing voyages of the past, such as the clipper tea route from China to the United Kingdom or the grain and wool route from Australia to Cape Horn and beyond. On completion of my first round the world voyage I decided to write a book which I wish I had on that voyage myself. This is how “ World Cruising Routes , now in its 9th edition, was born. I must admit that every other book that I’ve written since is still basically written for myself, be it “ World Voyage Planner “, “ World Cruising Destinations ” or more recently the “ Ocean Atlas .” All these books need to be constantly updated and that means that I have to keep abreast of any changes that may occur in global climate conditions.”

Community and Collaboration in Sailing

Cornell underscores the importance of community in the sailing world, drawing on his experience organizing sailing events like the ARC transatlantic rally. Beyond safety, these events foster camaraderie and collaboration among sailors, enriching the sailing experience and promoting mutual support.

“My initial intention was to bring together a group of like-minded people who happen to cross the Atlantic at the same time.” Cornell tells American Sailing, “There was, of course, also the important safety factor involved, when a large group of boats crossed the ocean at the same time. This made it possible to help each other in an emergency, which often happened and continues to happen.”

The community factor has continued to be an essential aspect not only of the transatlantic but also round the world rallies, as participants were (and continue to be) involved in scientific research programs while underway, and also in local community projects in the places visited.

Embarking on a First Voyage

Cornell offers simple yet profound advice for aspiring sailors embarking on their first long-distance voyage: respect nature. Drawing on a lifetime of sailing adventures, he encourages sailors to approach the sea with humility and reverence, knowing that their safety and enjoyment depend on Mother Nature’s grace.

Jimmy Cornell’s legacy extends far beyond his remarkable achievements. Through his writing, teaching, and advocacy, he continues to inspire a new generation of sailors to explore the world’s oceans with curiosity, courage, and respect. His online courses with American Sailing will introduce him to new sailors aiming to grow their sailing resume in the offshore world.

Don’t Miss American Sailing’s Upcoming Online Class

VOYAGE PLANNING IN A CHANGING WORLD • HOSTED BY JIMMY CORNELL

TUE • JUN 04 • 4:30PM PT Voyage Planning In A Changing World Learn how to plan and navigate safely with world-renowned sailor Jimmy Cornell as we cover planning essentials for global journeys.

Related Posts:

• Learn To Sail
• Mobile Apps
• Online Courses
• Upcoming Courses
• Sailor Resources
• ASA Log Book
• Bite Sized Lessons
• Knots Made Easy
• Catamaran Challenge
• Sailing Vacations
• Sailing Cruises
• Charter Resources
• International Proficiency Certificate
• Find A Charter
• All Articles
• Sailing Tips
• Sailing Terms
• Destinations
• Environmental
• Initiatives
• Instructor Resources
• Become An Instructor
• Become An ASA School
• Member / Instructor Login
• Affiliate Login

• Top Stories More News
• Today's National Outlook
• Hurricane Tracker
• Snow & Ski Forecast
• Cold & Flu
• Allergy Forecast
• Fire Updates
• Traffic Cameras
• Weather Cameras
• Outdoor Sports Guide

Pair Passage Planning with Routing Optimisation

Latest insights.

Webinar: Navigating EU ETS with LR Emissions Management | 22 May

How digital technology will power decarbonisation in maritime, the crucial role of voyage planning and route optimisation in maritime operations, global maritime trends 2050: how digitalisation shapes the future, new ceo for lr oneocean, other solutions you might be interested in.

Route Optimisation

How can we help?

5 takeaways from congressional hearing on Key Bridge collapse, response

A day after a preliminary report revealed new details about what happened in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after a vessel strike, members of Congress peppered officials behind the federal response with questions about the ship’s power outage, the safety of other bridges and how to pay for a new bridge.

How might the ship’s power problems have been avoided? How prepared for massive ships was this bridge and how prepared are others across the country? How should the federal government recoup costs for a new bridge?

In the early morning of March 26, a huge container ship left the Port of Baltimore on a voyage to Sri Lanka, but didn’t make it very far. The 984-foot Dali lost power twice within about half a mile of the Key Bridge and it drifted into one of the bridge’s support piers around 1:30 a.m., collapsing the span and killing six construction workers.

A Coast Guard official said Wednesday that response officials in Baltimore believe the Dali will be refloated and removed from the middle of the waterway “early next week.” The Army Corps of Engineers hopes to reopen the federal channel by the end of May, if not sooner.

Meanwhile, other work remains ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Board, which released its preliminary report Tuesday , continues to investigate the cause of the vessel’s strike. The FBI has a criminal investigation. Transportation officials are planning for a new bridge.

The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure convened Wednesday’s hearing to explore the federal response. Here are five takeaways:

Dali’s power losses were distinct

About 10 hours before it left port, the Dali experienced a pair of blackouts, or complete losses of power, while the crew undertook engine maintenance, the NTSB’s preliminary report revealed.

The power losses in port, originally triggered by a mechanical problem caused by a crew member’s mistake, led the crew to switch the ship’s power supply to a different electrical transformer and circuit breakers, the report said. Those breakers tripped twice as the ship approached the bridge, rendering it mostly rudderless and without propulsion as it plowed into the support pier.

During her testimony, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy distinguished among the Dali’s four power outages.

“Preliminary information indicates that the March 25 blackouts were mechanically distinct from those that occurred on March 26,” Homendy told lawmakers. “Two were related to routine maintenance in port. Two were unexpected tripping of circuit breakers on the accident voyage.”

Figuring out what caused the breakers to trip as the Dali approached the bridge is at the center of what Homendy described as an investigation of “unprecedented” scale for her agency, which probes transportation disasters with the goal of preventing future tragedies, not holding anyone accountable.

“Switching breakers is not unusual but may have affected operations the very next day on the accident voyage,” Homendy testified. “So the configuration of the breakers remains under investigation.”

Coast Guard to assess major ports

The Key Bridge collapse spawned numerous questions about the safety of maritime operations around American ports and infrastructure.

Coast Guard Vice Adm. Peter Gautier said Wednesday that those questions warrant immediate attention, and that officials can’t wait until the conclusion of federal investigations into the disaster in Baltimore for answers.

“While we look forward to the results of these investigations, it is evident, looking more broadly, that the size and complexity of ships has grown over the years, placing greater demands on our marine transportation infrastructure that may not have kept pace with the increased risk that these vessels pose,” Gautier testified. “It’s time for us to more broadly understand these risks.”

Gautier told lawmakers he was convening a “nationwide Board of Inquiry” to evaluate the efficacy of the Coast Guard’s risk management resources and how they’re being put to use in major ports.

Describing the probe as a critical step to ensure “safe and secure flow of commerce on our waterways,” Gautier said it would “establish a holistic national level approach to develop risk profiles, identify ways to address vulnerabilities and propose actions to reduce the risk of major incidents.”

Homendy said she was “very encouraged” to hear the Coast Guard’s plan for a board of inquiry for ports across the country.

Questions over funding bridge reconstruction

President Joe Biden has pledged that the federal government would pay entirely to rebuild the bridge. But if Congress is fronting the cost of a new bridge, anticipated to approach a price tag of $2 billion, committee members asked Wednesday, how can it expect to get some money back?

Shailen Bhatt, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, told lawmakers that under existing rules, any insurance funds recovered after an “emergency relief” event go back into the emergency relief fund. That program covers most of the costs of repairs to damaged roads and bridges following natural disasters and external catastrophic failures.

The roughly $1.7 to $1.9 billion emergency relief request related to the Key Bridge collapse is the second-largest ever received by the Federal Highway Administration, according to Bhatt. It is second to a $2.2 billion request made following Hurricane Katrina, he said Wednesday.

Bhatt also acknowledged, in response to lawmakers’ questions, that the Key Bridge had been redesignated following the collapse as part of the interstate highway system, rather than a state facility. That redesignation means it will be eligible for 90% or more of the costs to be covered by the federal program, rather than the 80% it would have qualified for without the designation.

Federal Highway Administration officials have told Maryland officials that they “believe” emergency relief funding will be available, which Bhatt said helps to relieve some “uncertainty.”

“I can pretty much with certainty guarantee this will not be 100% federally funded eventually, because we will recoup all of the insurance payments … and they will go back into the [emergency relief] funds,” Bhatt said. “But as the ranking member mentioned, we don’t want to wait through all of the litigation and the NTSB investigations, insurance issues, for that.”

Questions linger about pier protection — for Key Bridge and others

The NTSB’s preliminary report noted that the Key Bridge had four dolphins , or islandlike structures in the water, designed to protect its piers — two on each side of the bridge.

But those devices didn’t stop the drifting Dali from striking one of the bridge piers, which was surrounded by timber, concrete and steel. The surrounding protection remained relatively tight to the pier itself, Homendy said Wednesday, and the dolphins were “rather small.”

Related Articles

• Local News | Barge hits bridge connecting Galveston and Pelican Island, causing partial collapse and oil spill
• Local News | En el funeral, evocan la bondad de Miguel Luna, víctima del derrumbe del Key Bridge
• Local News | Recreational vessels to get weekend passage around Key Bridge wreckage
• Local News | Power outages and an urgent warning: NTSB details Dali crew’s scramble before Key Bridge collapse
• Local News | Ship that collapsed Key Bridge lost power twice the day before crash, report finds

She said the NTSB has been comparing the Key Bridge with others that “have pier protection that comes out farther, so that a vessel can’t get to the column” and larger dolphins.

“In this situation, you have a bridge that began operations in 1977. If it was built today, it would be built differently,” Homendy said. “That has to be taken into consideration.”

She urged other bridge owners to conduct risk assessments of their own bridges with this in mind, alongside the growing size of container ships. It’s not necessary to wait until the NTSB investigation is complete to evaluate how protected a bridge is, she said.

“From a risk assessment standpoint, what is now going through? What is the vessel traffic? And how is our infrastructure protected?” Homendy suggested bridge owners ask.

Ancient law used by companies behind Dali may get fresh look

Less than a week after the Dali crashed into the bridge, the Singaporean companies that own and manage the ship cited a pre-Civil War law enacted more than a century ago to limit or eliminate their liability in the disaster.

On April 1, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., the owner, and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., which manages the 984-foot cargo ship, asked a federal judge in Maryland to clear them from liability or limit damages to the salvage value of the ship plus the revenue it stood to make from its cargo, which they estimated at $43.7 million.

To be successful, the companies have to prove they did nothing wrong. The City of Baltimore and a group of businesses argued in lawsuits they were negligent in allowing an allegedly unseaworthy vessel to sail.

No matter how the case plays out, one lawmaker said Wednesday, the law, designed to protect the maritime industry, needs to be reevaluated.

The Limitation of Liability Act of 1851 “really has to change,” said U.S. Rep. John Garamendi, a Democrat from California.

He told fellow lawmakers he intended to introduce legislation that would ensure “the owners of these vessels would be held responsible for the costs of their mistakes.”

©2024 Baltimore Sun. Visit baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

• Yekaterinburg
• Novosibirsk
• Vladivostok

• Tours to Russia
• Practicalities
• Russia in Lists

Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

Plan your next trip to Russia

Ready-to-book tours.

Your holiday in Russia starts here. Choose and book your tour to Russia.

REQUEST A CUSTOMISED TRIP

Looking for something unique? Create the trip of your dreams with the help of our experts.