Boats That Collide With Bridges: What Types?

On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after a 984-foot cargo ship called the Dali collided with one of its pillars. The ship was en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and was carrying 4,700 cargo containers, 56 of which contained hazardous materials.

The ship's crew notified officials with a mayday call, which allowed authorities to stop traffic before impact and likely saved lives. Despite this, six people are presumed dead, and two were rescued. The two survivors included a worker who ran from the bridge and another who swam to shore.

The ship's pilot had called for tugboat assistance and reported a loss of power before the collision. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The ship's crew notified officials with a mayday call before the collision

On March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after a cargo ship collided with one of its pillars. The ship's crew notified officials with a "mayday" call before the collision, which allowed authorities to stop traffic before the impact and likely saved lives.

The Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship, was headed out of Baltimore Harbor en route to Sri Lanka when it hit the bridge at around 1:30 a.m. ET. The ship lost power and experienced a blackout, causing its lights to flicker and the vessel to veer off course. A mayday call was made, and authorities were able to stop traffic from entering the bridge. Despite these efforts, the bridge collapsed within seconds of the collision, sending several vehicles into the river.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into the incident. They have recovered the ship's voyage data recorder and are reviewing radio communications and other data. The NTSB has also boarded the Dali to interview the crew and collect evidence. The investigation is expected to take 12 to 24 months, but a preliminary report should be available within a few weeks.

The collapse of the bridge has had significant impacts on the local community and economy. The bridge served as a major transportation link and carried over 30,000 vehicles per day. The Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest ports on the East Coast, has been closed indefinitely, disrupting shipping and supply chains. The economic fallout is expected to be substantial, affecting thousands of jobs and costing millions of dollars.

The focus now is on search and rescue efforts, as well as recovering the remains of those who perished. Six construction workers are presumed dead, and authorities have suspended the search for additional bodies due to treacherous conditions in the wreckage-strewn harbor. Two survivors were pulled from the water, and one was hospitalized. The victims and their families are in the thoughts and prayers of the Baltimore community and officials, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore and President Joe Biden.

The Dali cargo ship was chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk

Maersk is one of the world's largest container shipping companies, moving everything from apparel and car parts to electronics and heavy machinery on board more than 700 vessels around the globe. It serves more than 100,000 businesses and calls on over 500 ports in more than 130 countries.

Maersk confirmed it had chartered the Dali, saying it was "horrified" by the incident. "We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed, the company said in a statement.

Since the Panama Canal was expanded in 2016, Baltimore's 50-foot shipping channel and port handle some of the world's largest cargo ships that arrive from Asia and elsewhere. The port handles goods including automobiles, sugar, coal and machinery.

The ship had undergone engine maintenance in port before the collision

The Dali cargo ship had undergone engine maintenance in port before it collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The ship was headed from Baltimore to Sri Lanka and was managed by the Synergy Marine Group. It was owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and chartered by Danish shipping giant Maersk.

The Dali had previously been involved in an incident in Belgium's Port of Antwerp in 2016, where it struck the stone wall of the quay during unmooring maneuvers. The accident was caused by the "mistake of the Master and pilot on board" and the ship suffered "sufficient damages."

In June 2023, an inspection of the Dali in San Antonio, Chile, found propulsion and auxiliary machinery deficiencies. The ship was also found to have a faulty monitor gauge for fuel pressure, which was rectified before departure.

On the day of the collision, the Dali left its berth at a marine terminal southeast of downtown Baltimore with 23 crew members on board. At around 1:24 a.m., the ship's lights went off and then back on. Numerous alarms went off on the bridge, and the ship appeared to lose its lights again as it drifted towards one of the bridge's main center columns.

A mayday call was made from the vessel, and transportation officials were able to stop traffic from approaching the bridge. The pilot aboard the Dali called for tugboat assistance and reported a loss of power. At around 1:29 a.m., the ship hit the bridge, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River.

The impact of the collision blocked shipping lanes and forced the indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest ports on the U.S. East Coast. The collapse also disrupted supply chains and affected thousands of commuters and dockworkers.

The ship's pilot called for tugboat assistance before the collision

The pilot of the cargo freighter that knocked down a highway bridge into Baltimore Harbor called for tugboat assistance and reported a power loss minutes before the collision. The ship's "black box" data recorder revealed that the pilot radioed for tugboat help several minutes before the crash, followed by a report that the ship had lost all power and was approaching the bridge.

The pilot aboard the Dali cargo ship ordered the vessel's port anchor to be dropped and issued a VHF radio call, reporting that the ship had lost all power and was approaching the bridge. The pilot also made a general VHF radio call for tugboats in the area to assist.

The ship's voyage data recorder (VDR) showed that at 1:27 a.m., the pilot called for tugboat assistance and, at 1:27:25 a.m., reported the power loss and the ship's proximity to the bridge. The VDR temporarily went off at 1:24:59 a.m. when numerous alarms went off on the bridge of the container ship.

The traffic on the bridge was halted, and a mayday call was sent out by the ship's crew, allowing authorities to stop incoming traffic and likely saving lives.

The ship was carrying hazardous materials

The ship that hit the Baltimore bridge was carrying hazardous materials. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the ship, called the Dali, was transporting 56 containers of hazardous materials, including corrosives, flammables, and lithium-ion batteries. Some of these containers were breached, and a sheen was noticed on the water's surface. The NTSB's chair, Jennifer Homendy, stated that the hazardous materials did not pose a public safety threat.

The Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship, was headed from the Port of Baltimore to Sri Lanka when it hit the bridge. The ship underwent routine engine maintenance before departing the port, and authorities were informed of this maintenance. The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the vessel to collect evidence and interview the crew.

The investigation into the bridge collapse is ongoing, and the NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report within two to four weeks. The full investigation could take 12 to 24 months to complete.

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