A cargo ship collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in the early hours of Tuesday, resulting in the collapse of a section of the bridge and triggering a massive search effort for at least six missing individuals.
Here’s what is known about the incident so far:
The operators of the Dali cargo ship issued a distress call indicating the vessel had lost power just before the collision, according to Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Despite losing power, the ship approached the bridge at a high speed.
The 985-foot (300-meter) long vessel struck one of the supports of the 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) bridge, causing it to collapse rapidly. A fire broke out on the ship, emitting thick, black smoke.
Synergy Marine Group, the ship’s management company, stated that one or more local pilots controlled the ship to assist with navigation.
At the time of the collision, the ship was moving at 8 knots, approximately 9 mph (15 kph), as reported by the governor.
While two people were rescued, six others, believed to be part of a construction crew repairing potholes on the bridge, remained missing.
Sonar scans indicated the presence of vehicles in the water, which is around 50 feet (15 meters) deep. The water temperature was recorded at approximately 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius).
Kevin Cartwright, the director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, described the incident as a “developing mass casualty event,” though the exact number of affected individuals was unknown.
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Grace Ocean Private Ltd., based in Singapore, owns the ship, which confirmed that all crew members, including the pilots, were safe. There were no reports of injuries among those onboard.
The ship’s distress call enabled authorities to restrict vehicle traffic on the bridge, and the incident occurred during the early hours, minimizing the impact on morning rush hour traffic.
All ship traffic to and from the Port of Baltimore has been halted until further notice, although the port remains open to trucks, according to Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.
The Port of Baltimore is a significant East Coast shipping hub, with the bridge spanning the Patapsco River, a crucial route for cargo ships to access the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
The Dali was en route from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, flying Singapore’s flag. Danish shipping company Maersk had chartered the vessel to transport cargo for its customers.
The collapse caused a 2% drop in Maersk shares on the Nasdaq Copenhagen stock exchange.
Historically, there have been several major bridge collapses worldwide due to ship collisions, including incidents in the United States, such as the collapse of the Interstate 40 bridge in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, in 2002, and the Queen Isabella Causeway in Port Isabel, Texas, in 2001.
