The swift actions taken by the Indian crew of the Singapore-flagged container ship ‘Dali’ have been applauded by Maryland Governor Wes Moore following a harrowing incident involving the vessel and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. In a statement, the governor hailed the crew as ‘heroes’ who potentially saved many lives by issuing a timely warning before the ship collided with a bridge pillar, avoiding further casualties.
Despite the mayday alert and the efforts of the bridge workers to halt traffic, six individuals who were working on the bridge at the time of the incident are presumed dead. While the ship’s crew and pilots are accounted for and safe, the tragedy has halted one of the busiest ports on the US Eastern Seaboard, with active search-and-rescue operations being called off 18 hours post-accident due to the improbability of finding survivors.
The collapse of the bridge, a vital link for traffic between New York and Washington, has sparked a major emergency response and ongoing recovery efforts. As Maryland State Police Colonel Roland Butler announced, divers are prepared to seek the remains of the missing workers with recovery operations set to commence after sunrise. The incident had immediate and far-reaching consequences, prompting a statement from US President Joe Biden who promised that the federal government would cover the reconstruction costs of the bridge and provide all necessary resources in the meantime.
Technical details emerging from the incident suggest that the collision occurred shortly after the ‘Dali’ experienced a total loss of power, plunging the vessel into darkness, which was followed by the bridge’s collapse. The Indian crew had intimated the Maryland Department of Transportation of the power issue, thereby averting further loss of life. The subsequent reopening of the bridge and restoration of the port will be critical, considering it is a vital node for automobile cargo in the US. The recovery of the bridge and the investigation into the collision remain ongoing as officials, citizens, and the maritime community grapple with the ramifications of this disaster.