The Mystery Boat That Struck Key Bridge

On March 26, 2024, the cargo ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing a partial collapse of the bridge and killing six construction workers. The 984-foot-long container ship experienced electrical failures and power loss prior to the crash, with investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) probing the ship's electrical system as a potential cause. The Dali, owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd and flying a Singapore flag, was en route to Sri Lanka when it struck the bridge. This incident has disrupted shipping across the East Coast and affected supply chains.

The cargo ship Dali was 984 feet long and weighed 95,000 tons when empty

On March 26, 2024, the cargo ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing a partial collapse of the bridge. The Dali is a massive container ship measuring 984 feet in length and 158 feet in width. Even more striking is its weight—the cargo ship weighs an astounding 95,000 tons when empty. To put this in perspective, if the Dali were to be stood upright, it would reach almost as high as the Eiffel Tower in Paris or about two-thirds of the way up the Empire State Building in New York.

The Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and flies under the flag of Singapore. At the time of the accident, it was chartered by the Danish shipping company Maersk for a voyage from Baltimore to Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the Dali did not get far, as it experienced a series of power blackouts and electrical failures, causing it to lose control and crash into the bridge.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) playing a key role. Their preliminary findings indicate that the Dali experienced electrical issues while docked in Baltimore, including two blackouts on March 25. The crew made adjustments to the electrical configuration, but the problems persisted, and the ship suffered additional blackouts just before the collision, resulting in a loss of propulsion and steering capacity.

The consequences of the collision were devastating. Six construction workers on the bridge were killed, and the disruption blocked entry to the Port of Baltimore, impacting supply chains along the East Coast. The bridge is expected to be reconstructed by 2028, with an estimated cost of $1.7 to $1.9 billion.

The Dali itself has been stuck at the crash site, with recovery teams working to free it using controlled explosions. The massive ship was eventually moved from the crash site for the first time on May 20, 2024, with the help of five tugboats and other support vessels.

The ship experienced two blackouts while docked, 10 hours before the collision

The Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, experienced two power blackouts while docked in Baltimore, 10 hours before it crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship was undergoing maintenance at the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore Harbour when the blackouts occurred.

A blackout on a ship occurs when there is a sudden total loss of electric power in the ship's main power distribution system. This can be caused by various mechanical or electrical failures in the power generation, distribution, or propulsion systems, as well as an ineffective operational response to the failure. In the case of the Dali, a crew member mistakenly closed an inline engine exhaust damper for one of the vessel's four diesel generators, blocking the engine's exhaust gases from exiting the vessel. This caused the engine to stall and the diesel generators to stop working.

When the Dali's systems detected the power loss, another generator started. The crew was able to get the first generator back online, but a second blackout occurred when there was insufficient fuel pressure, causing the second generator's speed to decrease and triggering another blackout. The crew was able to reopen the exhaust damper for the first generator, and it automatically restarted, restoring power.

Blackouts can have serious consequences, especially in congested waters, during manoeuvring, or in harsh weather conditions. They can lead to a loss of life, damage to property and infrastructure, and environmental impacts. In the case of the Dali, the ship experienced two more blackouts just before the collision with the bridge, including one that caused the ship to lose power as it was approaching the bridge. The blackouts and the resulting loss of control led to the ship crashing into the bridge, causing a partial collapse and killing six workers.

Six people were killed in the crash, with two others rescued from the water

The Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March 2024. Six people were killed in the crash, with two others rescued from the water. All eight were construction workers who had been repairing potholes on the bridge.

The ship, owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd and flying a Singapore flag, had experienced two power blackouts while docked at the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore Harbour. A preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the crew had adjusted the electrical configuration of the ship before it left port. Investigators are examining whether these adjustments contributed to the accident.

The trouble began when the vessel's electrical circuit breakers tripped, causing a loss of propulsion and steering capacity. The crew desperately tried to restore power and prevent the ship from drifting towards the bridge, but they were unsuccessful. The ship struck one of the bridge's columns, causing it to collapse within seconds.

The crew of the Dali had alerted officials about the malfunction, and they were able to stop traffic on the bridge, likely saving lives. However, the construction crew was unable to escape in time. The NTSB report noted that 52 seconds elapsed between the ship pilot's call and the bridge's closure.

The aftermath of the crash saw disruption to shipping across the East Coast, with the entrance to the Port of Baltimore blocked. The recovery process was complex, requiring controlled explosions to remove sections of the bridge that were attached to the ship. The FBI has launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

The ship's crew tried to deploy the anchor but it's unclear how much progress was made

The Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March 2024. The collision caused a partial collapse of the bridge, killing six workers.

In the aftermath of the incident, details have emerged about the events leading up to the crash. The Dali experienced a series of electrical issues, including two blackouts while docked and two additional blackouts shortly after departing the port. These power losses resulted in the loss of propulsion and steering capacity, causing the ship to drift towards the bridge.

As the Dali hurtled towards the bridge, its crew desperately attempted various measures to avert the impending disaster. One such attempt was to deploy the ship's anchor. In such a dire situation, the anchor could potentially slow down the ship and prevent or mitigate the collision.

However, the effectiveness of this attempt remains uncertain. Multiple officials confirmed that the crew tried to deploy the anchor, but it is unclear how much this action impacted the ship's trajectory and speed. The massive ship, over 900 feet long, was moving at a very rapid speed of about 8 knots or just over 9 miles per hour.

Captain Michael Burns, a maritime expert, commented on the challenge of stopping a cargo ship, especially in a short period. He explained that it often takes years of experience and training to safely bring these ships to a halt. The process can be extremely challenging, and the stopping distance can vary depending on the circumstances, sometimes requiring up to a mile for larger ships.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and officials are analyzing the ship's data recorder to establish a detailed timeline of events. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation and is expected to release a final report on the cause of the incident within two years.

The final NTSB report with the cause of the incident could take up to two years

The investigation into the Baltimore bridge collapse is still ongoing, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) estimating that their final report could take up to two years to complete. In the meantime, preliminary findings have been released, shedding some light on the possible causes of the incident.

The container ship Dali, measuring 984 feet in length and weighing about 213 million pounds, crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the early morning hours of March 26, 2024. The collision resulted in a catastrophic collapse of the 1.6-mile-long steel structure, blocking entry to the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping channel.

In the days and weeks following the incident, investigators from the NTSB and other agencies worked to piece together the events leading up to the crash. They discovered that the Dali experienced a series of power blackouts and electrical issues before and during its voyage. The ship had two recorded blackouts while docked in Baltimore on March 25, one of which was caused by a crew member's mistake in closing an inline engine exhaust damper. This error led to a diesel generator malfunction and subsequent power loss.

On the day of the collision, the Dali encountered two more critical blackouts just before reaching the bridge. These power outages were triggered by tripped circuit breakers, causing the ship's propeller and rudder to malfunction. The emergency generator was unable to prevent the power loss, and the ship lost steering capability. Minutes later, it rammed into one of the bridge's columns, causing its collapse.

The NTSB is conducting a thorough investigation into the electrical configuration of the Dali and the potential impact of the blackouts on the voyage. They are also examining the design and operation of the ship's power distribution system, including its breakers. The probe is expected to be highly detailed, and the final report will likely include extensive analysis and conclusions.

In the meantime, recovery efforts are ongoing, with controlled explosions used to remove sections of the bridge still attached to the ship. The Dali itself is expected to be moved away from the crash site, and the reconstruction of the bridge is estimated to begin next year, with a completion date of 2028 at the earliest. The incident has highlighted the challenges posed by the sheer size and weight of modern container ships and the potential consequences when something goes wrong.

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