Baltimore bridge collapse: Crew of cargo ship to remain on board until investigation is complete

The crew of 20 Indians and a Sri Lankan of the damaged container vessel that collided with Baltimore bridge last week will remain on board until the investigation into the accident is completed.

The spokesperson of the company of the container vessel said it is not known as to how long the crew would have to stay on board the ship, but they will remain onboard until the investigation process is complete, reported PTI.

Dali, the 984-foot cargo ship which was enroute Colombo, Sri Lanka collided with the 2.6-km-long four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore in the early hours of March 26.

The collision had resulted in the deaths of six people, who were part of a construction crew repairing potholes on the bridge. Divers recovered the bodies of two of the construction workers from a red pickup truck found submerged in the river and a search was on for the remaining four victims.

The investigators are working to determine exactly what caused the collision, and it is unclear when the crew will be able to leave the vessel.

“It is confirmed there are 21 crew members on board. The crew members are busy with their normal duties on the ship as well as assisting the National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard investigators on board," a spokesperson of Grace Ocean Pte and Synergy Marine told PTI.

According to US media reports, just minutes before colliding with the bridge, there was a total blackout on the ship, indicating that the vessel lost engine power and electrical power.

The Singapore-flagged Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and managed by the Synergy Marine Group. 

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi earlier said that there were 20 Indians on board Dali and the Indian embassy in Washington was in close touch with them and local authorities.

US President Joe Biden had also praised the crew on board Dali for alerting transportation personnel about losing control of the vessel, which enabled authorities to close the Baltimore bridge to traffic before the devastating collision, “undoubtedly” saving lives.

Following the collapse, a temporary alternative route for ships is to be opened in the US city of Baltimore, officials announced.

Meanwhile, Efforts are underway to remove debris from the water.  The collapse of the bridge has effectively shut down operations at Baltimore’s port, affecting about 8,000 jobs and about USD 2 million in daily wages for those workers, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said last week.

Between USD 100 million and USD 200 million worth of trade went through the port daily before the bridge’s collapse, and the port was America’s largest for handling vehicle imports, Buttigieg said.
 

(with PTI inputs)