wind yacht

The 2 classes of Windstar ships, explained

Windstar Cruises has a surprisingly varied fleet for a cruise line with only six small ships.

The cruise line was known for years for its fleet of three-masted sailing yachts (imagine a hybrid of a small cruise ship and a large four- or five-masted sailing vessel). But in the mid-2010s, in a bid to expand without building new ships, the line acquired three small, aging cruise ships from luxury line Seabourn and completely refurbished them.

Windstar's fleet is now equal parts sailing ships (known as the Wind class) and yachts (the Star Plus class), tied together by a casual-yet-upscale vibe, friendly crews and port-intensive itineraries.

While Windstar loyalists happily cross from masted yacht to regular ship, depending on the itinerary, newcomers will want to understand the differences between the line's two classes of ships because the onboard amenities are different enough to affect your vacation experience.

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An introduction to Windstar ships

Windstar Cruises specializes in small ships carrying between 148 and 342 passengers each. Though the line calls them yachts, the ships are structured more like tiny cruise ships with indoor lounges and communal dining rooms.

The Wind-class sailing ships come in two sizes: the 5,307-ton Wind Spirit and Wind Star and the 14,745-ton Wind Surf. The non-sail motor yachts are all identical at 12,995 tons.

Most of Windstar's fleet was not originally built for Windstar. Wind Surf originally sailed as a Club Med cruise ship. The motor yacht trio started their lives as Seabourn vessels.

That does not mean you should expect worn-out ships. Windstar recently spent $250 million to not just update but also lengthen the three motor yachts of its Star Plus class. The ships were cut open and a new midsection was added to create more space for additional cabins (Windstar calls them suites, even if they have only one room), new dining venues and expanded outdoor deck areas.

The ships function more as a comfortable home base than destinations by themselves. Onboard attractions are limited to a few restaurants, a small spa and fitness center, a pool and hot tub, and a tiny boutique. You'll find two or three bars, rather than a large assortment. There's no kids club because children younger than 8 aren't allowed onboard.

Related: 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation

The biggest difference between the classes, besides the sails, is that cabins on Star Plus-class ships are marketed as suites. While most aren't true, multiroom suites, the cabins are spacious with separate living and sleeping areas, French (step-out) balconies on most rooms and good-size bathrooms. The cabins on Wind-class ships are more compact and nautical in design, with porthole windows and small living spaces tricked out with hidden storage to maximize space.

What all the ships have in common is a water sports platform. On select days when the ship is anchored (not docked at a pier) and the weather and government regulations align, crew members can offer water sports, such as swimming and kayaking, right off the back of the ship.

Ships in class: Wind Surf (1989), Wind Spirit (1988) and Wind Star (1986).

Size: 5,307 tons (Spirit and Star) to 14,745 tons (Surf).

Technically, Windstar's Wind-class ships comprise two different types of ships, but the line categorizes all of its ships with sails together.

The 148-passenger Wind Spirit and Wind Star are the only ships in the current fleet custom-built for Windstar. Each has four decks and as many masts for sails. The ships each feature one 220-square-foot Owner's Suite, and the rest of the cabins are 188-square-feet rooms. Each cabin, including the suite, features a window; you will not find a private balcony on these ships.

Most of the public areas are found on the upper two decks with cabins on the lower two, with the exception of a small gym and the exit to the water sports platform on Deck 2. Deck 3 features the majority of the indoor spaces, including the Amphora main restaurant, boutique, reception desk, library, tiny spa, main lounge and a cafe serving coffee drinks and small snacks.

The topmost deck features the indoor-outdoor buffet restaurant Veranda, which transforms into the waiter-served Candles restaurant in the evening. A pool, hot tub and pool bar round out the alfresco offerings.

The 342-passenger Wind Surf joined the Windstar fleet in 1998 after sailing for Club Med. It follows the same basic idea as its two sailing sisters, but with more space and a few more attractions.

It's got six decks, five masts and four types of cabins (again all with windows only, no balconies). These include 188-square-foot regular cabins and 18 suites measuring 376 square feet, which are essentially double cabins with two bathrooms, two vanities and a sitting area where the second bed should be. These rooms are found throughout decks 1 through 3.

One 242-square-foot Officer's Suite and two 495-square-foot Bridge suites are located on Deck 5 (Bridge Deck).

Like its smaller sisters, Wind Surf contains the Amphora Restaurant and Veranda/Candles, main lounge, Yacht Club Cafe, pool and hot tubs, boutique, spa and fitness center. In addition, the ship adds a third dining venue – Stella Bistro – and the Terrace Bar, both on the ship's top deck.

Windstar deploys its sailing ships to destinations with more concentrated routes, where the romance factor is high (to complement the ships' beautiful sails). These include Tahiti and French Polynesia , Costa Rica and the Panama Canal, and Greece.

Related: 5 things to love about Windstar's stretched and refurbished Star Pride

Star Plus class

Ships in class: Star Legend (1990), Star Breeze (1988) and Star Pride (1988).

Size: 12,995 tons.

The Star Plus-class ships are all pre-owned cruise ships. They debuted in the late '80s and early '90s for luxury cruise line Seabourn and Windstar purchased them and brought them into the fleet 25 years later in 2014 and 2015.

The trio came to Windstar as 212-passenger, 9,975-ton cruise ships. Windstar refurbished the ships to clean them up and add the line's branding before they debuted but quickly realized more was needed to bring the ships in line with modern standards, both under the hood and in passenger-facing venues.

So the line announced a $250 million refurbishment project that included lengthening the ships by adding a new midsection. Extensive below-decks work was done to replace the existing engines with more efficient ones, as well as improve environmental standards. Above decks, each ship received 100 new cabins and suites, additional restaurants and expanded deck space to host a new infinity pool and more space for the line's famous deck barbecues.

Work on the project began in 2019, with the renovated ships debuting in 2021 and 2022.

Similar to Wind Surf, the Star Plus-class ships feature six passenger decks, a water sports platform, Amphora and Veranda/Candles restaurants and a boutique.

Each ship has a lounge that serves as an excursion assembly station and a theater for live entertainment and talks, as well as the large Compass Rose bar and lounge for dancing, drinking and whiling the evening away. Dining venues exclusive to this class include the alfresco Star Grill by Steven Raichlen and the Spanish Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso.

The spa and fitness center is much larger on these ships, featuring a complimentary thermal suite with heated lounges and saunas, as well as a separate workout room and fitness studio for group classes. A tiered infinity pool and hot tub are the focal point of Deck 7, but there's a somewhat-secret hot tub on Deck 5 forward, as well.

The Yacht Club is a gorgeous circular hangout and library space with board games and a little cafe area, and the Star Bar is surrounded by comfortable patio furniture one deck above the pool. There's also a screening room on Deck 5.

Related: Everything you need to know about Windstar Cruises' loyalty program

Cabins come in nine varieties. Five of them are the same size — 277 square feet — with two key differences. The first is whether the room offers a porthole, picture window or French balcony (which is big enough for one person to step out onto, but too small for a seating area); the second is whether the room has the original furnishings and the bed by the bathroom or is a newly built cabin with more modern furnishings and the bed by the window.

You can tell which style of cabin you're getting by the name. Star porthole, ocean-view and balcony suites are the new suites; plain ocean-view and balcony suites are the originals.

All cabins have updated bathrooms, some with tub-shower combos and others with shower only.

True suites range from 400 to 820 square feet, and include the Classic, Deluxe, Owner's Suite Forward and Owner's Suite Midship. The latter can be combined with surrounding standard suites to transform into a three-bedroom, 1,374-square-foot Grand Owner's Suite.

Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship

The Star Plus-class ships are the line's traveling class, taking the longer, more sightseeing-focused routes in places like Alaska , Asia, Australia and northern Europe. With more indoor space, these ships can better handle destinations like Iceland and Alaska where the weather may prevent passengers from spending large amounts of time outdoors when sailing.

Bottom line

Windstar's two classes of ships can be quickly summarized as either sailing ships with smaller cabins and limited public spaces or upscale small ships with spacious cabins and more choices of restaurants and hangouts.

No matter which you choose, you'll get a similar experience. That's because each of the six ships honors the brand's themes of a casual onboard vibe with adult-focused upscale touches, fine dining in partnership with the James Beard Foundation, low-key outdoor fun, destination exploration and a friendly, helpful crew.

Windstar's fleet is so small that many cruisers find that the destination guides their vacation choice more than the ship. As the line carefully matches ship style to the itinerary, you'll likely find yourself content with whichever class of ship you find yourself sailing.

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SILVER WIND Yacht – Inside the €14,500,000 Superyacht

SILVER WIND yacht is a 44m superyacht designed by Andrea Vallicelli and features an interior design from the Italian design house, Nuvolari Lenard. She offers the best in luxury amenities for guests to enjoy the superyacht lifestyle.

Italian shipyard ISA Yachts delivered SILVER WIND in 2014. Her owner is an anonymous Italian businessman.

SILVER WIND is an eye-catching and sleek yacht on the water with world-class onboard features for guests to enjoy.

SILVER WIND yacht interior

Italian luxury design house Nuvolari Lenard designed the interior design of the SILVER WIND. The interior features a split-level master suite, a swimming platform for guests to enjoy the water, and extensive outdoor areas.

There is a large sundeck, a cozy couch area, and an alfresco dining spot and bar. The decor of the SILVER WIND yacht features luxurious materials like Hermes silk, high gloss ebony, and walnut. There is a hot tub on the sundeck and a wellness suite onboard.

The wellness center has a waterside balcony for perfect views of the water. A state-of-the-art video works system adds to the luxury amenities for the guests to enjoy.

There is accommodation for 11 guests on the SILVER WIND, in five cabins with a master suite, one VIP suite, and two doubles. There is accommodation for eight crew members on board on SILVER WIND.

The toys on board the luxury yacht include Jet Skies, wakeboards, kneeboards, and snorkeling equipment.

Andrea Vallicelli designed the exterior of the SILVER WIND yacht. The vessel was built in 2014 and delivered from the Italian shipyard, ISA Yachts .

The exterior of the SILVER WIND is a striking silver color that turns heads, with a smooth and sleek GRP hull and superstructure.

She has solid and distinctive lines that run from the stern to the sundeck. SILVER WIND was recently refitted in 2018.

She features a shallow draft for a superyacht, which means she can anchor closer to coves and sheltered bays overnight.

Specifications

The SILVER WIND yacht is a 43.63m yacht with a draft of 2m and a beam of 8.3m. The yacht has a displacement of 298 gross tons and a cruising speed of 19 knots.

SILVER WIND reaches a maximum speed of 32 knots with her two MTU engines.

She has an advanced stabilization system that reduces the side-to-side roll of the yacht when at anchor and underway.

She has a range of up to 2600 nautical miles. SILVER WIND has a unique hybrid propulsions system developed by Siemens and ISA Yachts.

She uses Rolls Royce Kamewa waterjets to propel water while the engines are off. The hybrid system allows her to navigate at a low speed of 8 knots with low fuel consumption.

The $18 million superyacht has an annual running cost of $1.8 million. SILVER WIND is a wheelchair-friendly yacht with an elevator that reaches the three decks.

SILVER WIND yacht owner

SILVER WIND is owned by an anonymous Italian billionaire and is available for chartered use.

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Son Of Wind

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SON OF WIND YACHT CHARTER

42.3m  /  138'9   custom   2021.

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Cabin Configuration

The 42.3m/138'9" motor/sailer yacht 'Son Of Wind' by shipyard Custom offers flexible accommodation for up to 10 guests in 5 cabins.

Built in 2021, Son Of Wind offers beautifully proportioned decks for exquisite indoor/outdoor living during a luxury yacht charter.

Guest Accommodation

Son Of Wind offers guest accommodation for up to 10 guests in 5 suites comprising a master suite, three double cabins and one twin cabin. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Son Of Wind benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter such as the underwater lights, adding spectacle and style after dark. Whether you want to work, use social media or stream movies on board this yacht, you can with Wi-Fi connectivity and guests will experience complete comfort while chartering thanks to air conditioning.

Performance & Range

Built with a GRP hull and GRP superstructure, she offers greater on-board space and is more stable when at anchor thanks to her full-displacement hull. Son Of Wind comfortably cruises at 11 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 15 knots.

Son Of Wind has a good selection of water toys and accessories to entertain you and your guests whilst on charter. Take to the sea on the Jet Skis offering you power and control on the water. Additionally, there are waterskis that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. In addition there are SEABOBs, offering a truly remarkable experience that lets you skim along the surface or swim with the fishes quietly and safely. If that isn't enough Son Of Wind also features wakeboards, canoes and paddleboards. Son Of Wind features two tenders, but leading the pack is a 4.9m/16'1" Dinghy to transport you in style.

Based in the magical waters of the Mediterranean all year round Son Of Wind is ready for your next luxury yacht charter. Let Son Of Wind Discover the magical places, food and experiences of the the Mediterranean.

Showcasing meticulous craftsmanship coupled with high-end luxurious finishes, motor/sailer yacht Son Of Wind certainly has the "wow" factor, along with state-of-the-art amenities and array of water toys, promising truly unforgettable yacht charters for even the most discerning guests.

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Son Of Wind Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Son Of Wind has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Son Of Wind is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• More Foil board
• 1 x 4.9m  /  16'1 Dinghy
• Tender Honda 80 HP engine

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

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For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Son Of Wind' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€56,000 p/week + expenses Approx $60,500

High Season

€63,000 p/week + expenses Approx $68,000

Cruising Regions

Mediterranean Greece, Turkey

Winter Season

October - April

€45,500 p/week + expenses Approx $49,000

Charter Son Of Wind

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

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Southern Wind specializes in smart custom performance sailing yachts from 25 to 40 meters, combining blue water reliability with fast and comfortable cruising enjoyment.

SMART CUSTOM VERSATILITY BLUEWATER RELIABILITY SAILING EXHILARATION

Southern Wind’s performance sailing yachts embody the ethos of cruising comfort in a reliable smart custom versatile platform. They are expertly crafted to cross oceans in comfort and style and deliver exhilarating sailing experiences in all weather conditions.

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Blog » Meet the Summer Wind Yacht

Meet the Summer Wind Yacht

By isabella stark, may 7, 2017.

Enjoy Casual Elegance Aboard the Summer Wind Yacht

The Summer Wind is a regal beauty that was once the private family yacht of the famous Bacardi family. This lovely lady has since been restored to her original classic beauty, and is reminiscent of a day and age when only the super rich had private yachts. Now she is yours for the asking; your very own private luxury yacht charter for the day. What a celebration you can host aboard ship while you and your guests sail along the beautiful South Florida waterways in luxury and style.

The Summer Wind yacht can easily accommodate up to sixty guests and has multiple decks, indoor and outdoor seating areas, and a covered sky deck. There is a full-service custom granite bar on the upper deck where guests can sit and drink cocktails while they enjoy breathtaking views of the Florida coastline. Guests can also enjoy air-conditioned, plush indoor lounge areas. The Summer Wind yacht also has a swim platform for those who enjoy being in the water.

Our party boat rentals offer you so much, and the Summer Wind yacht is no exception. This beautiful yacht boasts a gorgeous master stateroom and ensuite bathroom below deck. She also has a lovely guest stateroom and ensuite bathroom, and guest quarters with twin beds and ensuite bathroom. This yacht party rental will truly be your very own private yacht to relax on after the festivities are over.

This year do something extraordinary like having a celebration aboard the Summer Wind yacht. You will be so glad you did. You can begin making your party plans today by contacting Charter One, Inc. at: 954-771-0102 .

Equipped with ice-breaking technology, these huge fancy yachts are the only river cruisers running all year around. The round trip journey takes two and a half hours and floats past all the big sights like the White House, Novodevichy monastery and the Kremlin. There’s a large open air observation deck up top, while the main body of the ship houses a restaurant with a dance floor for a romantic post dinner dance. For a particularly romantic experience take one of the evening boats and admire the bright lights of the city skyline at night.

The most relaxing and picturesque tour that Moscow can offer: a great way to see the city center and its main attractions. This is a perfect alternative to exploring the city by car, if you only have time to do sightseeing during weekday rush hours.

Your English-speaking guide is eager to share every bit of their knowledge about the surrounding landscape, the architecture and historical details.

We conduct Moscow river tour on Radisson Flotilla boats all year around!  It’s warm inside during winter months, while there’s air conditioning during hot summer days. You may also treat yourself to drinks, lunch or dinner on board (drinks and food are not included in tour price).

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Quay at Radisson Collection Hotel

Government Headquarters ("the White House")

Kievsky Railway Central

Novodevichy Convent

Luzhniki Stadium

Academy of Sciences

Monument to Peter I

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Moscow Kremlin

St.Basil's Cathedral

Novospassky Monastery

U-turn and back to Quay at Radisson Royal Hotel

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Who's going.

• Excursion River Cruise on Luxurious Radisson Boat
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See photo of the meeting point

What we know about the container ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge

• The ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday was the Singapore-flagged Dali.
• The container ship had been chartered by Maersk, the Danish shipping company. 
• Two people were recovered from the water but six remain missing, authorities said.

A container ship crashed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing its collapse into the Patapsco River.

A livestream showed vehicles traveling on the Francis Scott Key Bridge just moments before the impact at 1:28 a.m. ET.

Baltimore first responders called the situation a "developing mass casualty event" and a "dire emergency," per The Associated Press.

James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore Fire Department, said in a press conference that two people had been recovered from the water.

One was uninjured, but the other was transported to a local trauma center in a "very serious condition."

Wallace said up to 20 people were thought to have fallen into the river and some six people were still missing.

Richard Worley, Baltimore's police chief, said there was "no indication" the collision was purposeful or an act of terrorism.

Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, declared a state of emergency around 6 a.m. ET. He said his office was in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary.

"We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration," Moore added.

Understanding why the bridge collapsed could have implications for safety, in both the shipping and civil engineering sectors.

The container ship is the Singapore-flagged Dali, which is about 984 feet long, and 157 feet wide, per a listing on VesselFinder.

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said that the ship "lost propulsion" as it was leaving port, ABC News reported.

The crew notified officials that they had lost control and warned of a possible collision, the report said, per the outlet.

The Dali's owner is listed as Grace Ocean, a Singapore-based firm, and its manager is listed as Synergy Marine, which is also headquartered in Singapore.

Shipping news outlet TradeWinds reported that Grace Ocean confirmed the Dali was involved in the collapse, but is still determining what caused the crash.

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Staff for Grace Ocean declined to comment on the collision when contacted by Business Insider.

"All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution," Synergy Marine said in a statement.

The company did not respond to a request for further comment from BI.

'Horrified'

Maersk chartered the Dali, with a schedule for the ship on its website.

"We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," the Danish shipping company said in a statement.

Maersk added: "We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed."

Per ship tracking data, the Dali left Baltimore on its way to Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, at around 1 a.m., about half an hour before the crash.

The Port of Baltimore is thought to be the largest in the US for roll-on/roll-off ships carrying trucks and trailers.

Barbara Rossi, associate professor of engineering science at the University of Oxford, told BI the force of the impact on one of the bridge's supporting structures "must have been immense" to lead to the collapse.

Dr Salvatore Mercogliano, a shipping analyst and maritime historian at Campbell University, told BI: "It appears Dali left the channel while outbound. She would have been under the control of the ship's master with a Chesapeake Bay pilot onboard to advise the master.

"The deviation out of the channel is probably due to a mechanical issue as the ship had just departed the port, but you cannot rule out human error as that was the cause of the Ever Forward in 2022 just outside of Baltimore."

He was referring to the incident two years ago when the container ship became grounded for a month in Chesapeake Bay after loading up cargo at the Port of Baltimore.

The US Coast Guard found the incident was caused by pilot error, cellphone use, and "inadequate bridge resource management."

Claudia Norrgren, from the maritime research firm Veson Nautical, told BI: "The industry bodies who are here to protect against incidents like this, such as the vessel's flag state, classification society, and regulatory bodies, will step in and conduct a formal investigation into the incident. Until then, it'll be very hard for anyone to truly know what happened on board."

This may not have been the first time the Dali hit a structure.

In 2016, maritime blogs such as Shipwreck Log and ship-tracking site VesselFinder posted videos of what appears to be the stern of the same, blue-hulled container vessel scraping against a quay in Antwerp.

A representative for the Port of Antwerp told BI the Dali did collide with a quay there eight years ago but couldn't "give any information about the cause of the accident."

The Dali is listed as being built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea.

Watch: The shipwreck at the center of a battle between China and the Philippines

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March 26, 2024 - Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision

By Helen Regan , Kathleen Magramo , Antoinette Radford, Alisha Ebrahimji , Maureen Chowdhury , Rachel Ramirez , Elise Hammond , Aditi Sangal , Tori B. Powell , Piper Hudspeth Blackburn and Kathleen Magramo , CNN

Video shows moment the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed

From CNN's Helen Regan

Video footage shows the moment the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after it was struck by a large ship.

The footage shows a towering boat headed directly toward one of the bridge’s support columns before colliding with it, sending a massive stretch of the bridge crashing into the water below in mere seconds.

The crash sent large plumes of smoke and fire into the air and part of the bridge appeared to collapse over the front of the boat, the footage showed.

Dark smoke continued to rise into the air for several minutes.

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after being stuck by large ship

From CNN's Melissa Alonso

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday morning after it was struck by a large ship, according to video obtained by CNN.

It is unclear if anyone was injured. 

Maryland Transportation Authority (MTA) says all traffic is being detoured.

CNN has reached out to Baltimore City Fire Department for additional information.  

The 1.6-mile, four-lane bridge extends over the Patapsco River and serves as the outermost crossing of the Baltimore harbor and an essential link of Interstate-695, or the Baltimore Beltway.

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A rare mayday preceded Baltimore bridge collapse: 'I couldn't think of a worse situation'

The Dali cargo ship was cruising away from the Port of Baltimore when its lights suddenly went out just after 1:24 a.m. Tuesday.  

The Singaporean vessel, which stretches nearly 1,000 feet long, had apparently lost power. It was now effectively rudderless and at the mercy of the currents.

“The worst sound you ever hear on a ship is dead silence, because that means everything’s gone wrong,” said Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime expert and historian. 

Four minutes later, the Dali crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The 1.6-mile span crumpled into the harbor within seconds. Six construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge remain missing.

Video of the ship, emergency radio transmissions and analysis from maritime veterans paint a picture of a disastrous scenario. It is rare for ships of that size to lose power and rarer still for it to happen in a narrow channel near the pillars of a major bridge. A last-minute mayday and quick actions on the ground most likely averted a much higher casualty count.

“Hold all traffic on the Key Bridge,” an unidentified first responder said over emergency radio transmissions posted online by Broadcastify, a website that streams and records radio communications. “There’s a ship approaching that just lost their steering.”

At that point, the Dali was drifting, powerless, toward the bridge at a speed of about 8 knots. Maritime experts said there was most likely little the crew could have done to avert catastrophe.

“An engine conking out 3 miles out in the ocean is an aggravation and an economic problem, because you lose time,” said Henry Lipian, a retired Coast Guard lieutenant and founder of the Introtech accident reconstruction firm. “In a narrow channel at night, with a bridge in front of you, I couldn’t think of a worse situation to deal with.”

A ship can drop anchor in an attempt to avert a collision, but given the Dali’s size, speed and distance from the bridge, such a move most likely wouldn’t have helped, said Morgan McManus, an instructor at SUNY Maritime College in New York who has worked on cargo ships and tankers.

“At 8 knots you need a couple thousand yards to do it,” McManus said.

Investigators are now working to piece together what happened. Lipian said he suspected that fuel or an issue with the fuel system might have been the culprit. 

“While in port, did they take on a load of fuel?” he said. “Was it the proper grade of fuel? Was it contaminated?”

The ship had data recorders on board, but they have yet to be analyzed, officials said.

“We chose not to board the vessel today to allow some time for the search and recovery, which we did not want to interfere with,” said Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation and Safety Board.

She described the recorder as a “critical piece of our investigation.”

An inspection of the Dali in Chile in June noted “deficiencies” in “propulsion and auxiliary machinery,” including gauges and thermometers, according to data on the website Equasis, which publishes safety-related information about ships. But the Dali had subsequent inspections, including one in September in New York, in which no deficiencies were noted.

Experts cautioned not to read too much into the deficiencies recorded in June. They could have been a result of something minor, like paperwork issues. 

The Dali, a Singaporean-flagged vessel chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, was bound for Sri Lanka.

“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” Maersk said in a statement. “We are closely following the investigations.”

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Synergy Marine Group, which operates and manages the ship, said that two port pilots were at the helm of the Dali at the time of the crash and that all 22 crew members on board were accounted for. Port, or bay, pilots play a crucial role in helping large ships navigate narrow waterways. They hop on ships approaching ports and hop off after they leave the harbors, using their extensive knowledge of their areas to guide vessels to safety.

“There’s very little margin of error going through some of these ship channels,” said Mercogliano, the maritime expert, who is an adjunct professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a history professor at Campbell University in North Carolina.

Mercogliano said a local tugboat operator who heard the mayday call told him a pilot issued it. 

“What the pilot did was what they were supposed to do,” Mercogliano said.

Containerships' colliding with bridges is rare but not unheard of. Last month, a cargo vessel struck a bridge outside the city of Guangzhou, China, causing a section of the roadway to come crashing down, killing five people. 

The deadliest such collision in the U.S. occurred in 1980, when a cargo ship rammed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Florida, bringing it down and killing 35.

Dramatic video captured the moment the Key Bridge tumbled into the water at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday.

The boat’s lights, after having gone out at 1:24 a.m., went back on one minute later, and dark smoke began billowing from the ship’s chimney. Then, at 1:26 a.m., the ship appeared to turn sharply. Before it slammed into the bridge, the Dali’s lights flicked off and on again. 

Local residents said they were shocked by the sight of the gaping hole above the bay where the bridge had stood for nearly a half-century. 

“It’s literally at the end of the street; you see it coming home every day,” said William Reynolds, of Dundalk. “And now it’s just not there.”

Rich Schapiro is a reporter for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

Jon Schuppe is an enterprise reporter for NBC News, based in New York. 

When is The Boat Race 2024? Start time, TV channel, latest weather, odds for Oxford vs Cambridge today

The Boat Race returns this afternoon for the annual battle between Oxford and Cambridge universities.

It was Cambridge who prevailed last year to make it 86-81 in the historic tally ahead of this, the 169th edition of the men’s race.

Oxford has been dominated to a greater degree in the women’s event, having last won in 2016, but they are favourites for the 2024 showpiece in both categories.

As ever, the 6.8km course will run across west London from Putney to Mortlake.

The build-up to this year’s Boat Race has been marred, however, by the threat of E. coli to the participants .

When is the Boat Race?

This year’s Boat Race takes place today, Saturday, March 30, 2024.

The women’s event is scheduled to start at 2.46pm with the men’s race at 3.46pm GMT.

How to watch the Boat Race

TV channel: In the UK, both races will be broadcast live and free-to-air on BBC One with coverage starting at 2pm.

Live stream: Viewers can watch online via the BBC Sport or iPlayer website and app.

Boat Race weather forecast

West London is set to be mild, relatively sunny and dry with light winds on Saturday. Perfect conditions for rowing .

Latest Boat Race odds

Women’s race

Oxford - 1/3

Cambridge - 9/4

Dead heat - 100/1

Oxford - 2/5

Cambridge - 7/4

Odds via William Hill, subject to change.

Cambridge extend dominance the double Boat Race victory

How to watch The Boat Race 2024 for FREE: TV channel and live stream today

Tottenham vs Luton: Premier League - LIVE!

Make your next trip to the West End a celebration of women in culture

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore brings to mind several collapses in Ohio

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed Tuesday after being struck by a cargo ship, sending at least seven people into the water. A massive emergency response is underway.

The tragedy in Maryland brings to mind several bridge collapses in Ohio, some with fatalities. Here is a selection from the Buckeye State, including 1989's Miamitown tragedy and a 2004 construction accident in Toledo.

Interstate 280 Maumee River Bridge launching gantry collapse, Toledo, Feb. 16, 2004

On Feb. 16, 2004, one of two launching gantries used for construction of the approach viaducts of the Interstate 280 Maumee River Bridge crossing collapsed, killing four workers and injured four others, according to the Transportation Research Board . 

During the ensuing investigation, the U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the main contractor, Fru-Con Construction Corp. of Ballwin, Missouri, for "willful" safety violations. Those violations included improperly anchoring the massive cranes that weighed 1.8 million pounds each and for failing to follow warnings issued by the crane manufacturer, according to the Toledo Blade .

Miamitown Bridge collapse, Cincinnati, May 26, 1989

A temporary bridge over the Great Miami River collapsed during widespread flooding on May 16, 1989, according to media reports , sending four cars into the water. At least two people drowned, WCPO reported .

In November 1990, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a report blaming the Hamilton County Engineer’s Office for three factors that contributed to the bridge collapse, according to WCPO. Those include selection of a design by National Engineering that did not consider lateral loads; failure to submit the bridge design plans to the Ohio Department of Transportation for review as required by state law; and failure to promptly close the bridge when it became subject to significant debris loading.

Silver Bridge collapse, Gallipolis, Dec. 15, 1967

The Silver Bridge spanned the Ohio River from Gallipolis to Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Opening to traffic in 1928, it was the first bridge in the nation to use an innovative eyebar-link suspension system rather than a traditional wire-cable suspension, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

However, one of those eyebars had a small, unseen defect. The faulty eyebar eventually cracked and began to corrode, out of sight from the public or bridge inspectors. At about 5 p.m. on December 15 -- during rush hour -- the eyebar failed, setting off a series of other failures that caused the bridge to collapse. Thirty-one vehicles plunged into the Ohio River, killing 46 people.

Baltimore's Key Bridge is not the first: A look at other bridge collapse events in US history

Crain Avenue Bridge collapse, Kent, Dec. 18, 1964

The Crain Avenue Bridge spanned the Cuyahoga River in downtown Kent, and was nearly 70 years old in 1964, according to the Record-Courier .

On Dec. 18 of that year, the iron bridge gave way under the weight of a gasoline tanker truck that weighed more than twice the posted eight-ton load limit. The span collapsed, sending the truck and an automobile following it 25 feet into the Cuyahoga River, killing one.

The bridge was rebuilt and in service until 2008 when it was struck and damaged by a derailed train . By then, plans for a new span at Fairchild Avenue, a block away, were already underway. That bridge opened in 2010.

Fassett Street Bridge collapse, Toledo, April 5, 1957

On April 5, 1957, a strong storm with 60 to 80 mph wind gusts broke all 12 mooring lines from the freighter Champlain, according to the National Museum of the Great Lakes . The ship floated downriver until it struck the Fassett Street Bridge, where it took out three spans. Two cars were on the bridge at the time.

The Toledo Blade reported that the bridge was built over the narrowest part of the Maumee River in 1896, and was designed to connect Walbridge and South avenues with the city's east side. The bridge had previously been taken out by ice floes in 1906 and high winds in 1935. It was knocked out of line by another boat in 1954. After being struck by the 8,700 ton Champlain, it was not repaired.

Steel Bridge collapse, Wheeling, West Virginia, Oct. 15, 1924

The Steel Bridge, which spanned the Ohio River from Wheeling, West Virginia to Wheeling Island in the Ohio River, collapsed on Oct. 15, 1924, killing one. Media reports from the time say a crowded street car had just crossed the bridge when the girders gave way. One of 35 workers repairing the structure fell 50 feet to his death.

Where is the Francis Scott Key Bridge? Who is Francis Scott Key?

The 1.6 mile, 4-lane bridge carries Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River on the Baltimore's southeast side.

Named for the author of the "Star-Spangled Banner," it was the second-longest continuous-truss bridge span in the United States and third in the world before the tragic accident.

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8 migrants apparently from Asia die in apparent boat accident off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Authorities in southern Mexico say the bodies of eight migrants, apparently from Asia, have been found after a boat accident off the country’s southern Pacific coast. Prosecutors in the southern state of Oaxaca said Friday that one survivor, an Asian man, was located. Based on preliminary investigations, the dead appear to have been from Asia. Their bodies were found near a beach in the town of Playa Vicente, which is about 250 miles east of Mexico’s border with Guatemala. The causes of the boat accident are under investigation. The area is often used by migrants seeking to cross Mexico.

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The Essence of Small Ship Sailing

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Wind Spirit offers two primary dining venues. Amphora restaurant offers gourmet, course-by-course cuisine in the evenings and Veranda restaurant offers casual buffet and full-service dining for breakfast and lunch. All dining is open seating. And, for dining under the stars, make a reservation for Candles which features steaks and skewers.

Wind Spirit amenities include: World Spa by Windstar, Watersports Platform, Lounge, Library, Pool, and Hot Tub.

Windstar has always been known for our iconic sailing ships, and now we are embarking on a multi-year refresh of the Wind Class ships. The initiative, Setting Sails: A Wind Class Refresh , brings the tight-knit connection of the Windstar community to the forefront through the redesign of public spaces and staterooms. From a revamped lobby to a new pool and larger pool bar, new World Spa by Windstar to a redesigned lounge, this initiative also includes intricate details like new teak decks and décor for a timeless and welcoming experience. Wind Spirit will complete her redesign in 2025.

Queen Size Bed with Luxurious Linens Waffle Weave Robe and Slippers TV with DVD Player Fully Stocked Mini Bar/Refrigerator Safe L'Occitane Bath Amenities Fresh Fruit Hair Dryers and 110/220 outlets Wi-Fi (internet cards can be purchased at reception) Bathroom with granite countertop and shower Granite vanity with magnifying mirror

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