Thoughts here on the collapse ...
Span between bridge supports seem much wider than the ship coming through.
Ship this size needs a very deep channel, dredging.
Was the dredged channel the entire wide between the bridge supports? Or is part of the channel deeper and maybe one side of the channel?
Dredging requires lots of approvals and environmental permits. Were they protecting animals and fish life in the harbor and only dredged the channel nearer one of the support pullers ?
Is Baltimore like Charleston harbor with buried history that was/is being protected limiting dredging?
If ship was able to navigate in center of channel between supports, would this have fallen? Would there have been more time to remedy a failed engine?
Or was the ship’s pilot / navigator under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol?
According to the diagram at the site, it was lined up between the two main supports at the center of the high point of the bridge, which I assume corresponds to the proper navigation channel.
It then veered off course and hit one of the main supports. (Initial reports - lost power/lost control.)
The bridge is 180 feet high. Plenty of room for a loaded ship to pass.