The United States’ infrastructure has been under the spotlight following the recent incident involving the container ship Dali. Two minutes and 46 seconds have passed since the pilot of the port of Baltimore called the port authorities to inform them that the ship had lost power. The pilot’s quick reflexes closed the two checkpoints guarding the entrances to the Francis Scott Key Bridge, preventing a greater tragedy.
The response to the incident was fast, but it will lead to a long and complex process to get the Dali sailing again, rebuild the bridge, and handle insurance claims. Experts have criticized the country’s infrastructure, pointing out that it lacks basic protective measures, similar to developing countries. The low investment in infrastructure compared to other developed nations has been a long-standing issue.
Infrastructure investments in the US have been politicized, with some politicians opposing them as wasteful. Conspiracy theories and misinformation have also emerged following the accident, with some blaming racial minorities or promoting false theories about the ship’s actions before the collision. The incident has sparked debates about public transportation, racial diversity, and