Following months of salvage operations, the cargo ship responsible for the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge has finally been removed from the entrance to the Port of Baltimore.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of March 26, claimed the lives of six construction workers and prompted both a thorough investigation by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and a criminal inquiry by the FBI.
Named the Dali, the 984-foot vessel suffered multiple power outages shortly before departing the Port of Baltimore, as revealed by the NTSB.
These electrical failures culminated in a critical loss of power just moments before the bridge collapse, causing the ship to veer off course and collide with one of the bridge’s supporting columns.
The Dali experienced two power outages while sailing out of the Port of Baltimore, investigators have revealed, per the New York Post. The second outage caused the ship to lose its steering and propulsion, leading to the tragic collision.
Credit: Rob Carr / Getty
The Dali, which had remained immobilized in the crucial shipping lane since the incident, has now begun its journey to Norfolk, Virginia. Under the careful supervision of the US Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic Office, the ship departed with four tugboats shortly before 8:30AM local time.
The vessel is heading to Norfolk for the removal of remaining containers and additional repairs, the Coast Guard has explained.
The voyage is expected to take between 16 to 20 hours, during which the Coast Guard will closely monitor its progress to ensure it reaches the Norfolk International Terminal safely.
Amidst the salvage efforts, the crew of the Dali - comprising 20 Indian nationals and one from Sri Lanka - faced uncertain circumstances.
Credit: Kevin Dietsch / Getty
Ten crew members were recently permitted to disembark and return home to India, while the remaining 11 remain onboard, uncertain of their future.
Following approval by a federal judge last week, crew members of the Dali were permitted to return to their home countries. These crew members had been unable to leave the United States since the bridge collapse incident.
According to the agreement, while the crew members are allowed to depart, they are required to remain available for depositions related to the ongoing investigation.
Rev. Josh Messick of the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center expressed concern for the crew's prolonged stay in the US. "They’ll be here for the duration of the litigation process, which could take a year or more," Messick told CBS News, acknowledging the challenging circumstances faced by the crew amidst ongoing legal and investigative proceedings.
"I and the other entities involved who are there to support them have as gently as possible tried to prepare them for this eventuality — that they could be here for the foreseeable future," Messick continued. "And when all is said and done, they may be one or more of them that remains even longer."
Synergy Marine, the company managing the Dali, has pledged to continue covering the crew's expenses, including food and lodging, throughout their extended stay in the US.
Meanwhile, the BBC reports that officials have estimated that the bridge will be rebuilt by 2028 at a cost of around $1.9 billion.
