In the early hours of Tuesday morning, tragedy struck as a Singaporean-flagged container vessel named Dali collided with one of the pillars of a 47-year-old bridge. The huge ship, stretching approximately 984 feet long – nearly the length of three football fields – weighed a staggering 95,000 gross tons, equivalent to 213 million pounds. Under charter by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, it was loaded with cargo.
An aerial perspective captured from a drone shows the Dali cargo vessel, which collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in its collapse, in Baltimore on Mar. 26. (PHOTO | NTSB/REUTERS)
According to Clay Diamond, executive director and general counsel of the American Pilots Association, just moments before the collision, the Dali experienced a total blackout, resulting in the loss of both engine and electrical power. This critical blackout rendered the vessel unable to maintain its intended course, leading to the collision with the Francis Scott Key bridge, as reported by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), referencing information from the ship’s management company, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd.
Onboard the Dali were 21 crew members and two pilots, as disclosed by NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy on Wednesday evening. Tragically, the impact of the collision resulted in the disappearance of six construction workers who were on the bridge at the time, filling potholes.
Rescue efforts were immediately initiated, but only two bodies were recovered on Wednesday after they were found trapped in a submerged red pickup in the nearby Patapsco River, according to a Maryland State Police statement.
While search-and-recovery efforts for the remaining four workers have been temporarily halted due to hazardous conditions including dangerous debris, treacherous waters, and the presence of hazardous materials aboard the ship, Superintendent Col. Roland L. Butler assured reporters that efforts will resume once salvage operations have been completed.
Among the missing workers are Miguel Luna, a father of three, had resided in Maryland for over 19 years, and Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval also left behind a wife and two children. There are 4 others missing as well.
The Chesapeake 1000 – a gargantuan floating crane – that can lift up to 1,000 tons is in charge of moving the 3-4,000 tons of debris. This means the debris will have to be cut up before it is removed.
As the investigation into the accident continues, the NTSB has taken the lead in determining the cause of this tragic event.
