Archive for the 'Infrastructure' Category
National Security Implications of Baltimore Bridge Catastrophe
April 19th, 2024In short, coal. Via: Real Clear Defense: Domestically, the impacts of these hiccups in the energy supply chain are already being felt. CSX’s Curtis Bay Piers in particular – heavily impacted by the bridge collapse – supplies coal to power the Maryland electric grid and provides metallurgical coal critical for the steel industry. The inability […]
Widespread 911 Outages Hit Four States
April 18th, 2024Via: Independent: At least four states experienced widespread 911 service outages on Wednesday evening, three of which were impacted by a disruption with a telecommunications company that provides 911 services. Law enforcement agencies areas of Nebraska and Nevada announced that outages had occurred in multiple cities and counties, with multiple authorities in South Dakota reporting […]
FISA 702: U.S. Government Could Force Anyone Who Provides Any Internet-Related Service to Assist with NSA Surveillance
April 16th, 2024Via: Coin Telegraph: The FISA 702 bill has been described by critics as a “dramatic and terrifying” expansion of the United States government’s surveillance powers. … The bill in question reforms and extends a part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) known as Section 702. Currently, the NSA can force internet service providers such […]
FBI Launches Criminal Probe Into Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Focus On Crew
April 15th, 2024Also the FBI: Via: Daily Mail: The FBI has launched a criminal probe into the Baltimore bridge collapse that killed six construction workers. Agents will investigate whether the 22-strong crew of the Dali knew it had serious systemic issues before they left the Maryland port on March 26.
26 Barges Break Loose and Float Down Ohio River
April 13th, 2024Via: NBC: Twenty-six barges loaded mostly with dry cargo broke loose from a Pittsburgh marina late Friday night and floated uncontrollably down the Ohio River, causing extensive damage to neighboring docks according to officials. The barges, which broke away from a vessel at mile marker one, have all been accounted for, but caused a substantial […]
Iran Seizes Cargo Ship in Strait of Hormuz After Threats to Close Waterway
April 13th, 2024Months ago, I called these low probability scenarios: 1) If the Strait of Hormuz somehow winds up closed/blocked. 2) If Saudi Aramco’s deep water port at Ras Tanura somehow winds up closed/destroyed. And now… Via: Reuters: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, days after Tehran said […]
Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Shipping Company Court Filing Seeks, “Exoneration from Liability”
April 7th, 2024U.S. District Court, Maryland: “Petitioners claim exoneration from liability for any and all losses or damage arising out of the Casualty and from any and all claims for damages that have been or may be filed. Petitioners further allege that they have valid defenses to any and all such claims.” Via: Redacted:
TSMC, UMC EVACUATE CHIPMAKING LINES AFTER MAJOR TAIWAN QUAKE
April 2nd, 2024Via: Bloomberg: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and its closest rival evacuated factory areas after the biggest earthquake to hit its home island in 25 years, casting uncertainty over production at the world’s largest maker of advanced chips. TSMC, the main contract chipmaker to Apple Inc. and Nvidia Corp., moved staff out of certain areas and […]
Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Container Ship “Potentially Atop High-Pressure Underwater Gas Line”
March 30th, 2024Via: ZeroHedge: The salvage operation may not begin as seamlessly as government officials hoped. As Captain John Konrad, CEO of gCaptain, a website specializing in tracking the shipping industry, states, the 984-foot Singapore-flagged container ship Dali is apparently “sitting atop a high-pressure underwater gas line.”
Two Of The Fastest U.S. Sealift Ships Trapped By Baltimore Bridge Collapse
March 29th, 2024Via: The War Zone: Two of the most capable military cargo ships in U.S. inventory are among the vessels now stuck in Baltimore following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge yesterday. The two members of the Algol class, which are also some of the fastest cargo vessels of their general size anywhere in […]
