In the early hours of Tuesday, the Dali cargo ship, a nearly 1,000-foot-long vessel hailing from Singapore, encountered a catastrophic event while departing from the Port of Baltimore. Around 1:24 a.m., the ship suddenly lost power, leaving it adrift and vulnerable to the currents of the harbor. Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime expert and historian, described the haunting silence aboard ships when critical systems fail, indicating a dire situation.
Within four minutes of the power outage, the Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a 1.6-mile span that swiftly crumpled into the harbor. Tragically, six construction workers who were on the bridge at the time, engaged in filling potholes, are currently missing.
Analysis from maritime veterans underscores the severity of the incident, as ships of such magnitude rarely lose power, especially in the vicinity of major bridges. However, swift response efforts likely helped mitigate potential casualties, with emergency radio transmissions indicating a last-minute mayday call and quick actions to halt traffic on the bridge.
Navigational challenges compounded the situation as the powerless vessel drifted towards the bridge at a speed of approximately 8 knots. Henry Lipian, a retired Coast Guard lieutenant, highlighted the complexity of maneuvering a ship of this size in narrow channels, particularly at night with an impending bridge collision.
Despite attempts to avert the crash, including dropping anchor, the ship’s size, speed, and distance from the bridge rendered such measures ineffective, according to maritime instructor Morgan McManus.
As investigations into the incident unfold, speculation arises regarding potential causes, with attention drawn to fuel-related issues. The vessel’s data recorders, crucial to understanding the sequence of events, have yet to be analyzed.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation and Safety Board, emphasized the significance of the data recorder in their investigation. Previous inspections of the Dali revealed deficiencies in propulsion and auxiliary machinery, raising questions about the ship’s maintenance and operational standards.
Amidst the tragedy, both Maersk, the Danish shipping giant that chartered the vessel, and Synergy Marine Group, its operator, expressed condolences and pledged cooperation with investigations. All 22 crew members aboard the Dali have been reported safe, with two port pilots guiding the vessel at the time of the collision.
While collisions between cargo ships and bridges are rare, they are not unprecedented. The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge marks a somber addition to a list of similar incidents, including the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse in 1980, which claimed 35 lives.
Witnesses described the harrowing moment when the Key Bridge succumbed to the impact, leaving a void where it once stood, a sight that shocked local residents like William Reynolds of Dundalk, who remarked on the bridge’s absence, a landmark he encountered daily.
