Early Tuesday morning, a significant portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed following a collision with a large container ship, the “Dali.” The incident, which occurred around 1:30 am local time, resulted in the bridge collapsing into the river below.
The vessel involved, flagged from Singapore, was owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd and had a capacity of 10,000 TEU, with 4,679 TEU units onboard. All 22 crew members aboard the “Dali” were Indian nationals, according to the Synergy Marine Group, which manages the ship.
The collision took place as the “Dali” was outbound from Baltimore to Colombo, under the guidance of two pilots. Despite the severity of the impact, there were no reported injuries among the crew or the pilots, and no pollution was reported.
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In response to the incident, the “Dali” has initiated its Qualified Individual Incident Response service, with full cooperation extended to the US Coast Guard and local authorities. The ship’s owners and managers are actively participating in the investigation alongside federal and state government agencies.
Maersk, a charterer of the vessel, expressed deep concern over the incident, affirming that no Maersk crew or personnel were onboard at the time of the collision. They assured customers that they would remain engaged in the investigation process, working closely with authorities and Synergy to provide updates as necessary.
The exact cause of the collision remains unclear, prompting ongoing investigations. Additionally, there is uncertainty regarding any individuals who may have ended up in the water as a result of the bridge collapse.
The situation underscores the importance of maritime safety and the need for thorough investigations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
