used sailboats for sale delaware

Sailboats For Sale Delaware

20 listings found.

Westerly conway 36

• United States

1984 Herreshoff Tortola-Trawler Nereia 36′ Sailboat

36 Hunter Vision 1993

Hobie Mirage Tandem Island

• Florida , United States

1972 Luders 36 by Cheoy Lee

Tartan 10 Snowballs Chance

• Connecticut

1975 Bristol 32 Sloop, Keel/CB by Ted Hood (Am’s Cup)

• Massachusetts

Used Yamaha 200 HP 4-Stroke Outboard Motor Engine

Used Yamaha 115 HP 4-Stroke Outboard Motor Engine

33ft Blue Water Sailboat

Freshwater Only – 1989 Hunter 33.5 Sloop-Rigged Cruiser, Shoal Wing Keel

F&C 44′ Ketch

Reeds Cub Scow – SOLD

Melges C Scow

470 sailboat and trailer

• Pennsylvania

1978 Hunter 30 Cheurbini

Sold – Shallow Draft Cat Ketch 24 Cruiser

New and Used Sailboats For Sale

With Delaware located on the Delaware Bay and access to the Atlantic ocean makes sailing a popular activity. Whether you’re a racer or a cruiser, the local sailing community has something to offer everyone.

Finding the right racing or cruising sailboat for sale is important depending on where you plan on docking or storing your sailboat. Each sailboat has unique features and characteristics compared to one another.

• Cruising Sailboats

Cruising sailboats are a popular choice for many sailors looking to get on the water with friends and family. For some sailors this means either an afternoon sail or a multi-day adventure. No matter what you’re sailing agenda is, you’re sure to find a variety cruising sailboats for sale in Delaware on SailTrader. Browse sailboats from popular cruising brands like Hunter, Catalina, Beneteau, Jenneau, Swan, Cal, Tarten, Pearson and more.

• Racing Sailboats

One Design Sailboats

One Design sailboats can often provide the best chance to learn and improve your racing skills. It’s common to find one design racing sailboats near larger bodies of water. Search sailboats for sale in Delaware from popular one design classes like the J24, J70, Tarten Ten, J105, J111, Melges 24 and more.

Dinghy’s are a often preferred due to the convenience and low maintenance costs. There are different classes that can offer a range of benefits and regattas. Browse dinghy’s for sale in Delaware like Thistles, Lightnings, Flying Scots, Scows, Optimists, 420’s, Lasers, VX Ones and more. Dinghy’s are also a popular choice in areas of Delaware that have small bodies of water. For racers, the cost of new sails for a dinghy are far less then a large racing sailboat. Search SailTrader for your next dinghy sailboat. 

Catamarans and Trimarans

Both catamarans and trimarans can be a great choice no matter if you’re a racer or cruiser. Racing multihulls are fast and light while cruising catamarans are wide and comfortable. SailTrader makes it easy to find the right catamaran or trimaran sailboat for sale in Delaware. We cater exclusively to sailors so you’ll find the latest and most recent sailboats available.

The Sailor's Choice For Sailboats For Sale in Delaware

SailTrader is exclusively designed to makes it easy for dealers and to privately  sell a sailboat . Browse local Delaware sailboat listings above or search sailboat listings nationwide.

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New& Used Yachts For Sale In Delaware

When looking for new, pre-owned, and used yachts for sale in Delaware, the amount of time it takes to narrow down exactly what you want can some times be frustrating. With so many manufacturers, models, and boat types, how do you begin to find the right yacht that meets your budget and your needs?

United Yacht Sales is the one-stop professional yacht brokerage that can navigate you through the pitfalls of boat shopping and help you make the best decision possible when it comes to its purchase. We can help you find the yacht for sale, set up the showings, help negotiate pricing, handle the yacht closing, and everything else involved, and we do all of this so you are able simply sit back and to enjoy the process. Buying a yacht requires a significant investment and it is our goal to provide you with detailed information and professional guidance.

When searching for a yacht for sale, there are a plethora of options. The yachts on our website number over 7,000 listings, including yachts built by top brands such as Hatteras, Viking, Bertram, Sea Ray, Azimut, Sunseeker, Ferretti, and more. United can also help you find the best used center-console boat in Delaware from brands like Yellowfin, Contender, and more.

To view a yacht for sale in Delaware, browse below and click the photo for more information.

YACHTS LOCATED IN Delaware

54' Hatteras 54 2006

Lewes, Delaware, United States

53' Island Pilot 535 2011

BEAR, Delaware, United States

38' Henriques 38 Flybridge 1988

Indian River, Delaware, United States

34' Fountain 34 CC 2019

Memory Maker

32' Custom Carolina Ricky Gillikin Express 32 1994

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, United States

32' Luhrs 2003

Millsboro, Delaware, United States

28' Grady-White Canyon 283 2015

Milton, Delaware, United States

• Page 1 of 1

Known as “The First State,” among a few other nicknames, Delaware was one of the original 13 Colonies to participate in the American Revolution and the first to ratify the U.S. Constitution and join the Union in 1787. But ironically, was the last state to get a national monument, when Pres. Obama and Vice Pres. Biden dedicated the First State National Monument in 2013, which includes Dover Green—the site of Delaware’s ratification of the Constitution, along with 1,100 acres of preserved land between Wilmington, DE and Philadelphia, PA. Delaware’s capital city is Dover and the location of Dover Airforce Base. Dover’s First State Heritage Park encompasses 18th century landmarks such as the Georgian-style Old State House around Dover Green that was laid out in 1717 following William Penn’s plan for a town gathering area.

Delaware is a small mid-Atlantic state that shares a peninsula with Maryland (west and south) and is separated from south New Jersey by the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. Pennsylvania borders on the north. Its strategic location gives Delaware easy access to major metro areas of the Northeast—Wash. DC, Philadelphia, PA, and Baltimore, MD are all within a 2-hour drive. It is the second smallest state with a landmass 96 mile long by 39 miles at widest point and fewest number of counties; New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Delaware is one of only five states that do not have a sales tax and is considered one of the most tax-friendly states. Visitors can enjoy tax-free “retail therapy” shopping in malls and outlets in northern Delaware to “funky” beach boutiques, tree-lined main street shops, antique stores, and the many Farm & Country stores. Delaware offers many excellent opportunities for boating and outdoor recreation with beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches, Delaware Bay and River (which don’t freeze in winter months because of high saltwater levels), and many other rivers and lakes.

The largest city is Wilmington, located in the north (New Castle County) on the Delaware and Christina Rivers. Major interstate highways pass through the city (I-95, 295). Wilmington is known for The Riverfront, a waterfront district redeveloped from shipping industry days into the scenic heart of Wilmington’s downtown with parks, shopping, and restaurants, such as Big Fish on the Riverfront, Docklands Riverfront, and Timothy’s Riverfront Grill, along with many breweries, pubs, and taverns. During Colonial times, the Port of Wilmington’s merchants had ties to England, but in 1776 Delaware separated from British and Pennsylvania’s rule. Beginning in the late 19th century, Wilmington grew into a manufacturing center and investment dollars increased 8-fold from 1860 to 1900. The most notable manufacturer was the Du Pont Company. Delaware is known as the “Chemical Capital of the World” and a major portion of the state’s economy is based on chemical manufacturing (Du Pont de Nemours) and includes pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and plastics. Delaware benefitted from both WWI and WWII in its gunpowder and shipyard industries, adding jobs especially in the Wilmington area. The shipbuilding industry along the Christiana River played a key role in the industrial revolution, through WWII and beyond, but shipyards no longer line the waterfront, as redevelopment in the mid-1990s has repurposed Wilmington’s valuable waterfront into a cultural destination, combining its rich history with great dining, entertainment, and shopping.

Sussex County in the southern end of the state was also a very important shipbuilding center with the Vinyard Shipyard in Milford, DE. Located on the Mispillion riverbank between US-1/Coastal Hwy and US Route 13 where more than 300 wooden ships were built between 1680 and 1927 in Milford shipyards. Vinyard Shipyard was founded in 1896 by Wilson Vinyard and is the last to survive in Milford. Vinyard was known for building quality sailing vessels and tugboats until WWI, when the yard built 110ft “sub chasers” for the US Navy, and again in WWII. Vinyard built luxury yachts ranging in length from 35ft to 52ft during 1927 to 1951. The yard ceased shipbuilding in 1951 but continued with repair work and building wooden boats until 1973. Eventually the shipyard fell into ruin until the Loflands, a local couple, purchased the property along with some antique Vinyard vessels, and restored it to museum quality. Named Delaware Historic site in 2016, the Vinyard site is currently being considered for the enhanced Milford Riverwalk project and part of the proposed 12-mile greenway belt along the Mispillion River extending to the Dupont Nature Center on Delaware Bay. The greenbelt and Riverwalk would expand outdoor and water recreational activities—kayaking, canoeing, biking, walking, and more.

History-rich Lewes in the southern Suffolk County, was founded in 1631 and is the first city of the First State and a key port for ships wending their way through the Delaware Bay and River to Philadelphia. Lewes was also an important shipbuilding town. In the 1600s there were no main roadways and land travel was difficult making travel by boat a necessity and instead of a First Street, the town’s first thoroughfare is the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal built in the mid-1800s, that connects the Broadkill River and Delaware Bay to Rehoboth Bay and is part of the Intracoastal Waterway. Lewes, located on the Delaware Bay, was known for its fishing industry of the oily Atlantic menhaden, a fish similar to the sardine. It was harvested for its oil until the whaling industry took over. Lewes was a breeding ground for menhaden and the industry reached its peak during and after the Civil War, though it continued into the 1960s. Lewes is known as Delaware’s “most beloved town” for its charming, boutique-lined streets, waterfront restaurants such as Grain on the Rocks located at the Lewes Ferry Terminal, and Ryves Holt House, originally built in 1665, is the oldest standing building in Delaware. Today it houses the Lewes Historical Society Visitor Center & Gift Shop.

The southern coast features six duned beaches on the Atlantic Ocean, each with its own ambience and appeal: historic Lewes with waterfront dining—Big Fish Grill is known for “best seafood at the beach;” cosmopolitan Rehoboth Beach is the most visited city in Delaware, known for its famous boardwalk featuring Funland with arcade, 18 rides, and 13 midway games, Penny Lane Mall, restaurants—Obie’s by the Sea, Victoria’s Restaurant; family-friendly Bethany Beach with boardwalk, restaurants—Mango’s, Rusty Rudder, is just south of Delaware Seashore State Park at Indian River Inlet and features views of Atlantic Ocean and Rehoboth Bay; Dewey Beach attracts a young, active crowd to its nightclubs and bayside restaurants; located north of Rehoboth Beach, Cape Henlopen State Park features pathways through sand dunes that lead to The Point at Cape Henlopen, a lookout tower, and lighthouse; and Fenwick Island, a laid-back beach town with Delaware’s southernmost beach at Fenwick Island State Park featuring 3-miles of ocean beaches and access to Little Assawoman Bay.

Delaware’s scenic country roads lead to vineyards and wineries of Delaware-grown grapes, and country farms producing fresh produce for restaurants and Farmers’ Markets, legacies of Delaware’s agricultural heritage. Salted Vines Vineyard is located in Frankford, DE near the coast on Indian River Bay and offers a range of wines from dry to sweet, wine slushies, and many events with live music. Harvest Ridge Winery & Rebel Seed Cidery, located on the Mason-Dixon Line in Marydel, DE, is owned and operated by generations of the Nunan family. Varieties grown are chardonnay, viognier, malbec, and merlot. The winery hosts a Food Truck Competition in April. Pizzadili Vineyard & Winery, owned and operated by brothers Tony and Pete Pizzadili, features over 20 different wines from over 12 grape varieties and fruits produced in the traditions of Italian winemaking. The winery, located in picturesque Felton, DE, is also a venue for events. Nassau Valley Vineyards was founded in 1987 by Peg Raley and her father, Bob Raley, in Lewes, DE and is Delaware’s first and premier award-winning winery located on a quiet country road off of US-1, not far from Delaware’s great beaches and beach resorts. Peg Raley was instrumental in getting legislation passed in 1991 allowing Farm Wineries. Nassau Valley features a line of 14 wines, and offers Tours & Tastings, Farmers Market, Events, Wine Shop, and is an event venue.

Delaware on Tap—Delaware Wine & Ale Trail tour from north (Wilmington riverfront) to south (Atlantic coastal area), of the state’s craft beverage scene featuring craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Go to the VisitDelaware.com website to learn more and download a “Passport.”

Delaware is a popular state for establishing companies and corporations for its favorable tax codes and corporate-friendly laws, and many high-net-worth individuals choose to establish a Delaware LLC or other corporation for boat ownership to avoid personal liability, for asset protection, and flexibility in designating ownership for a group or sole person through the corporate name. According to Delaware Vessel Regulations, a vessel kept and/or used in Delaware for more than 60 consecutive days is considered to have Delaware as its principle state of use and must be registered with the State of Delaware, an easy low-cost process with no sales tax. United Yacht Sales’ Closing Department can offer expertise to its corporate and individual customers regarding Coast Guard Documentation and/or state registration. Cruising visitors can contact the Delaware City Marina, located south of Wilmington on the Delaware River, a full-service marina and boatyard offering seasonal, monthly, and daily rates. Features floating docks, fuel, ice, ship’s store, and marine service.

The Canalfront Park Marina operated by the City of Lewes seasonally from April 1st – November 30th and features 19 boat slips for seasonal and transient stays. 13 of the 19 slips are for residents. Six slips are for transient boaters; two large slips can accommodate boats up to 55ft length/16ft beam with four small slips for boats up to 25ft/12ft beam. Marina basin may have been dredged since Feb 2020 when MLW was 2ft. The City of Lewes also operates Otis B. Smith City Dock which is a 200ft long floating dock in 4 sections and can accommodate vessels from 12ft to 120ft with a dock depth of 8ft at MLW. Slips can be reserved in advance for 7 consecutive days and extended depending on availability. Both marinas are located in the heart of historic Lewes and are within walking distance of the center of town shopping, dining, museums, and more. A shuttle is also available. All slips come with water and 30-50amp electric. Both offer pump-out service, laundry facilities, restrooms, showers, diesel fuel, ice, WiFi, ship store, picnic area, playground, tennis, service/maintenance, travel lift, and security.

The Anglers Marina, operating since 1963, offers 10 boat slips, fuel dock (diesel & gas) and is located in Lewes, south of the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal North Inlet. Low water depth is 12ft with a 3ft tide; amenities include restrooms, showers, water and electric hook-ups, pump-out, trash, cell reception, storage, and DIY commercial boatyard. Great dining is within walking distance. The Anglers Fishing Center operates a fleet of charter fishing boats.

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Boats for sale in Delaware

• 27 foot boat new motor! $12,000 Smyrna
• 2015 Smoker Craft Boat, Trailer and Motor $7,500 BRIDGEVILLE
• Bayliner Ciera 2859 Hardtop $14,999 Bear, Delaware
• WTB 15 hp outboard $1,100 shore
• WTB 4-15 hp outboard $1,100 shore
• Homemade Wooden Kyak (Mykiak) $250 Elkton
• 2007 Honda Aquatrax F12X Turbo jetski 3 seater $7,000
• Canoe Mad River Slipper $1,500 Milton, De
• 2023 LEXINGTON 321 PONTOON BOAT $29,500 Selbyville
• 1977 topaz 24' $16,500 Lewes, DE
• BUNK BOAT/PWC TRAILER WITH TITLE $1,200 FELTON, DE.
• CLEAN PURSUIT MODEL 2470 WALKAROUND,TWIN YAMAHA 130HP MOTORS LOW HOURS $19,900 GEORGETOWN DE
• 14ft John Boat and trailer/motor $800
• 2012 BAYLINER 195 BOW RIDER $8,900 Bear
• Hobie Tandem Kayak $2,250 Felton
• "BEWARE" of people selling boats and trailers $1 WILMINGTON, DE.
• 2 SEA DOO JET SKIS WITH TRAILER $14,000 LEWES
• CENTER CONSOLE FOUR STROKE HYDROSPORT BOAT 160CC 60hp SUZUKI+TRAILER! $7,900 MILLSBORO, DE
• 2004 Trophy CC $40,000
• Triumph 195 CC T-Top with 115HP E-Tec motor $27,500 Eastern Shore
• Bayliner 2858 $25,000 Wilmington
• 2800 MAXUM / EXCELLENT SHAPE $13,000 Chesapeake City
• 24' CENTER CONSOLE 2400CC W/ FOUR STROKE 225HP MOTOR AND NEWER TRAILER $9,900 MILLSBORO,DE
• WTB DE commercial crab license $1 Middletown
• Get them crabs!! $0 Middletown
• Carolina Skiff 12 $2,900 Wilmington
• Aluminum boat $1,450 Dover
• 2014 YAMAHA 242 LIMITED S $24,500
• 14' Alum Semi V in VGC $1250,Trailer $450, 8hp Evinrude LS $800 $1,250 Pike Creek Wilmington, DE
• 1988 Shamrock 20ft Cuddy - $5000 obo $5,000 Camden-Wyoming
• Crab Traps-RingMaster $26 USA
• 2002 Grady White $24,000 Dover
• Seadoo like new $0 South Jersey
• Wooden Rowing Dory $2,300 Bethany Beach
• Albin Cumulus $12,500 Bethany Beach
• Fiberglass Boat $2,000 Middletown
• 1990 C&C 34+ $49,950 Wilmington
• 2006 Hurricane SD 195 OB Boat, Yamaha 150 HP 4-S and Aluminum Trailer $19,995 Va. Beach , VA.
• American 14.6 sailboat, 2018, 2.3 hp Honda engine, road ready trailer $4,000 Dewey Beach, DE
• 2006 Bennington 2075 FSI Pontoon / 2018 Evinrude 90HP Etec, 2018 Venture trailer $14,500 Chesapeake City
• Grady White 272 Sailfish Walk-around - Twin 2012 Yamaha Outboards! $25,400
• 1996 Proline 2950 Full Walk Around Fishing Boat - Ultimate Deep Sea Ad $12,080
• Canoe Grumman Aluminum 17’ $300 Milton, De
• Carolina Skiff 14DLX $9,900 Rehoboth Delaware
• 1996 Boston Whaler Dauntless 20 $7,900 ELIZABETHTOWn
• 2013 Pursuit 31 ST $153,300 Lewes, DE
• Bay Boat $3,500 West Grove,Pa.
• 2022 Grand Island G-Series 20ft Partyfish Pontoon $20,250 Harrington
• 2008 trophy 2352 walkaround 24 ft $14,000 Millsboro
• 1996 Henriques 28’ Pilothouse Sportfish $75,000 Bethany Beach
• 1975 MerCruiser $2,500 Millsboro/Longneck
• 2004 Sea Ray Sport $6,500 Princess Anne
• BOAT LIFT-12,500LB $1,800 ELKTON
• Robalo 1820 Center Console $12,700 Wilmington, DE
• 2023 Yamaha Wave Runner EX Less than 10hrs. With Load-Rite Trailer $10,500 Dover
• Tandem kayak $350 Harbeson
• 2021 Boston Whaler150 Montauk $30,500 Selbyville
• 1989 Cobalt Condurre 223 $9,500 Milford
• Boat Slip Rental South Shore Marina Indian River Inlet $4000 (Bethany $4,000 Bethany Beach, Delaware
• West Marine 310 Rigid Inflatable Boat $1,200 Rehoboth Beach
• Formosa 43 sloop $39,990 Galena
• ONLINE BLENDED CAPTAINS CLASS $850 Ventnor // National Park // Woodbridge
• Seadoo gtx 300 $11,650 Sewell NJ
• 12 foot boat and motor $750 Dover
• 1996 Wellcraft 190ccf $18,000 Townsend
• Proline 2902 $52,000 Longneck
• 1974 f25 Trojan $4,400 Woodstown
• Kayak $800 Rehoboth Beach
• Old Town 158 Discovery Canoe $875 Delaware City
• 2018 Manitou Aurora RF still has WARRANTY $32,900 Millsboro
• Sold -Canoe $200
• SUZUKI OUTBOARD $1,197 DAGSBORO
• 14' Mckee Craft $6,500 Newark, DE
• 2020 Monterey 328SS33' $150,000 Dewey Beach
• Bayliner $2,500 Elkton
• 06 stingray $9,000 Lewes
• 2017 Carolina Skiff 2180DLX $36,500 Brigantine, NJ
• 2017 G3 17ft Center Console $15,000 Smyrna, DE
• Boat $1,350 Cecilton
• 2001 Crownline 290CR Twin Engine $29,500 Charlestown
• 240 Switzer Offshore $24,999 Delaware
• Sailboat share Catalina 27. Engine 5 yrs old $1,500 Bear, DE, USA
• Boats Wanted $1,234
• Delaware Commercial Crab Pot Lic $25,000 Frederica
• 2020 bayliner dx2200 $45,000 Long neck
• 14' Aluminum boat & trailer $500 Dover
• 1990 Aluminum sea Nymph $4,999 Clayton Delaware
• 1993 trophy Bayliner $4,500 Clayton Delaware
• 1996 Sugar Sand Mirage Jet Boat $1,000 Lewes
• Premier Gemini 221 Pontoon Boat $23,900 Selbyville
• Grady White Tournament $4,050
• 2024 Sea-Doo Switch Sport Compact $30,000 MIDDLETOWN
• 2010 Seaward 26RK $53,500 Salem
• 1994 Luhrs 250CC walkaround Powerboat $45,000 Milesburg
• 2023 Yamaha SX190 $33,495 Bethany Beach
• Perception Pescador Pro 12ft $750 Smyrna , DE
• 150HP Johnson Outboard Motor $1,400 Dover
• Need Welding Work??? $0 Mobile
• 1970 Cee Bee Avenger Mock 2 $2,500 Milton
• 1985 SEARAY LAGUNA 20 $5,000 Millsboro

How a cargo ship took down Baltimore’s Key Bridge

To bridge experts, the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge after being hit by a heavy cargo ship was as inevitable as it was devastating.

When a vessel as heavy as the Singapore-flagged Dali crashes with such force into one of the span’s supercolumns, or piers, the result is the type of catastrophic, and heartbreaking, chain reaction that took place early Tuesday.

“If the column is destroyed, basically the structure will fall down,” said Dan Frangopol, a bridge engineering and risk professor at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania who is president of the International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety. “It’s not possible to redistribute the loads. It was not designed for these things.”

No bridge pier could withstand being hit by a ship the size of the Dali, said Benjamin W. Schafer, a professor of civil and systems engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

“These container ships are so huge,” Schafer said. “That main span has two supports. You can’t take one away.” He called the accident “a huge infrastructure failure,” but not because of the bridge collapse; he said the shipping industry needs systems to keep a ship on track when it loses power, as the Dali did before the collision.

The bridge itself, which carried more than 30,000 vehicles daily, appeared to be structurally sound. Its condition was rated fair, according to data in the 2023 National Bridge Inventory maintained by the Federal Highway Administration. Maryland state officials said they were focused on search-and-rescue operations and did not provide later inspection data. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said excavating detailed inspection history information — and what was done in response to any earlier findings — will be a cumbersome and protracted part of the agency’s investigation.

But bridge safety and engineering experts are emphasizing a separate issue: protective barriers.

When the span opened to traffic in 1977, many ships were smaller and the standards for protecting bridges against them were lower, they said.

A few years later, a Liberian cargo ship crashed into a bridge in Florida , sending a Greyhound bus, a pickup truck and six cars into the Tampa Bay and killing 35 people, according to the NTSB. That deadly 1980 collision helped lead to the adoption of stronger national standards for bridges, including protection from errant ships, in the years that followed, safety experts said.

Sherif El-Tawil, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at University of Michigan with expertise in bridges, said if the Key Bridge had been built after those updated standards from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials were put in place, the span could still be standing.

“I believe it would have survived,” El-Tawil said.

Maryland officials did not answer questions Tuesday about what protective devices were in place near the bridge and whether they were sufficient to withstand this type of collision.

Two examples of protective measures that did not appear to have been in place, El-Tawil said, were large fenders designed to direct marine traffic away from the bridge supports and an island built around the pier.

Some states are building these kinds of protection systems around vital bridges. Last year, officials from a joint New Jersey and Delaware bridge authority announced work on eight 80-foot-wide, stone-filled cylinders designed to protect the Delaware Memorial Bridge. The existing protection for the bridge tower piers dates to 1951. “Today’s tankers and ships are bigger and faster than those of the 1950s and 1960s,” the officials said in announcing the nearly $93 million project.

State departments of transportation “are aware of the shortcomings of these bridges,” said Roberto T. Leon, a bridge and structural engineering professor at Virginia Tech. “It’s not that they don’t know. It’s a matter of prioritizing the repairs. It is a very expensive proposition to protect a bridge.”

Ian Firth, a British structural engineer and bridge designer, said he was “not surprised” at how quickly the bridge came down after it was hit. He noted that the support structure that was struck, which would have been made of reinforced concrete, was one of two main supports responsible for doing “all the work” to hold up the bridge.

He said the ship appeared to have strayed to one side before striking the bridge.

The bridge collapse, like other calamities, is probably the result of overlapping low-probability failures, said Edward Tenner, a historian and expert on disasters — akin to what happens when, by chance, the holes in a stack of Swiss cheese slices line up perfectly.

“This might have been a case where there were just an unlikely series of failures,” said Tenner, author of “Why Things Bite Back,” a book about technology and its unanticipated consequences. But he added, “I suspect there was something about the equipment of a huge ship like that, given the potential for damage like this, there should have been more redundancy. There shouldn’t have been one point of failure that could lead to a catastrophe.”

Speaking Tuesday afternoon in Baltimore, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called the accident “a unique circumstance,” adding, “I do not know of a bridge that has been constructed to withstand a direct impact from a vessel of this size.”

The ship was towed into the Patapsco River initially, but the tugboats did not accompany the ship all the way to the bridge, said John Konrad, a retired ship captain who runs the gCaptain maritime news website and co-authored a book on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill .

“The safe thing to do is keep the tugs,” Konrad said. “Moving forward, I think that’s going to happen. The Coast Guard is going to say you’ve got to keep the tugs tied up until you pass the bridge.”

In video imagery, the ship can be seen losing electrical power, then briefly regaining it before going completely dark. The ship then veers to the right, directly toward the bridge’s structural support.

The rudder may have gotten stuck in a position that caused the ship to turn, said a senior retired maritime official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity while waiting for more details on the incident. It’s also possible that an incoming tide could have been a factor, he said.

“Obviously, they could not control the ship. They could not stop the ship,” he said.

A deficiency in the Dali’s systems was discovered when the ship was inspected in June, records show. Inspectors at the port of San Antonio, Chile, discovered a problem categorized as relating to “propulsion and auxiliary machinery,” according to the Tokyo MOU, an intergovernmental shipping regulator in the Asia-Pacific region. The issue was classified in the subcategory of “Gauges, thermometers, etc,” but no additional details of the deficiency were provided. The problem was not serious enough to warrant detaining the ship, according to the records.

After a follow-up inspection later the same day, the Dali was found to have no outstanding deficiencies, the records show, indicating that the problem was addressed.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said at a news conference Tuesday that the Dali lost power and issued an emergency call for help shortly before the freighter crashed into the bridge. The “mayday” distress call allowed officials to halt vehicle traffic headed over the bridge and saved lives, Moore said.

Erin Cox, Tom Jackman, Jon Swaine, Joyce Lee and Mark Johnson contributed to this report.

An earlier version of this article misstated the title of Edward Tenner's book. It is "Why Things Bite Back." This version has been corrected.

Baltimore bridge collapse

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo ship , sending at least eight people from a construction crew into the water. Follow live updates and see photos from the scene .

How it happened: The container ship lost power shortly before hitting the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) said. Video shows the bridge collapse in under 40 seconds.

Victims: Divers recovered the bodies of two construction workers who died , while finding other vehicles trapped and probably containing the other victims, officials said. They were fathers, husbands and hard workers . The entire crew aboard the container ship Dali survived . First responders shut down most traffic on the four-lane bridge after the crew issued an urgent mayday call. It saved lives, Moore said.

Economic impact: The collapse of the bridge, which severed ocean links to the Port of Baltimore, adds a fresh headache to already struggling global supply chains . See how the collapse will disrupt the supply of cars, coal and other goods .

History: The Key Bridge was built in the 1970s and spanned the Patapsco River. Rebuilding the bridge will probably take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars, experts said.

Port of Baltimore suspends ship traffic after bridge collapse: What it means for travel

Travel is being impacted by Tuesday’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse along Interstate 695 in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Drivers were immediately directed to take alternate routes through the city, following the early morning incident. What’s less clear is what the bridge collapse may mean for upcoming cruises in and out of Baltimore.

“Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice,” the Port of Baltimore posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Live Updates: Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship hits it; construction crew missing

Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., whose district includes the bridge and the port, called the collapse an “unthinkable horror” and said he had spoken with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the White House. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

“They are responding with all of the assets at their disposal,” he said in a statement. “Our prayers right now are for the missing individuals and victims of this tragedy. We thank God for the effective service of our first responders.”

Here’s what we know.

Which cruises go to Baltimore?

Several major cruise lines serve Baltimore. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the industry’s leading trade group, published itineraries in the 2024 calendar year include a dozen ships making 115 stops in Baltimore.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy and collapse of the Key Bridge that occurred last night and extend our support and heartfelt prayers to all those impacted,” CLIA spokesperson Anne Madison said in an emailed statement. “We join everyone in extending our thanks and appreciation to the first responders and emergency workers in Baltimore, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other professionals who are working with one goal in mind—to save lives. We are closely following this situation.”

Carnival’s website shows Carnival Pride and Carnival Legend also have sailings into or out of Baltimore set for April. 

Carnival Legend will temporarily move operations to Norfolk, Virginia.

The ship's current cruise, which left for a planned round-trip sailing from Baltimore on March 24, will end in Norfolk on Sunday. Passengers will then receive free bus rides to Baltimore. The vessel's next cruise will sail round-trip from Norfolk later that day.

“Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore,” Carnival president Christine Duffy said in a statement. “We appreciate the pledge made by President Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible. As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk.”

The cruise line has not yet shared plans for Carnival Pride. Carnival's parent company, Carnival Corp., said the temporary change in homeport is estimated to have an impact of up to $10 million on adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income this year, according to a news release .

Royal Caribbean's Vision of the Seas, which left from Baltimore on March 23 , will return to Norfolk instead on April 4. "Our guests on board will be provided compensation and complimentary shuttle transportation as well as Wi-Fi and phone calls to adjust their travel arrangements," a spokesperson said in an email.

The ship's April 4 and 12 cruises will leave from Norfolk, too. "Our guests booked to sail with us will receive compensation due to the necessary adjustments made to their vacations," the spokesperson added. "After returning from the April 12 cruise, Vision will head to the Bahamas for its previously scheduled maintenance."

Was your cruise itinerary changed?: What to do next

American Cruise Lines has roundtrip sailings from Baltimore scheduled in May, according to its website.

“We will monitor the situation and make adjustments to future cruises if needed, but at the present time our schedules remain unaffected, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the immediate situation and rescue efforts underway,” an American Cruise Lines spokesperson told USA TODAY.

Norwegian Cruise Line doesn’t appear to have any Baltimore sailings until September on Norwegian Sky . The line will stay in contact with the port and share any changes with passengers and travel partners, according to a spokesperson.

"In the meantime, we wish the city of Baltimore strength during this very unfortunate event," they said in an email.

Alternate routes for the Baltimore bridge

Most drivers can take Interstate 95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) or Interstate 895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) to avoid the collapsed bridge. However Maryland Transportation Authority notes there are some exceptions .

Vehicles carrying hazardous materials, including more than 10 pounds of propane, are not allowed in the tunnels. Additionally, vehicles more than 13-feet and 6-inches high or 8-feet wide may not use the 1-895 Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Vehicles more than 14-feet and 6-inches high or 11-feet wide may not use the I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel. 

Those vehicles should use the western portion of I-695 instead.