15-5-2024 (BALTIMORE) Federal investigators have pinpointed a series of electrical failures as the likely cause behind the catastrophic collision involving the cargo ship Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. The incident, which claimed the lives of six individuals and paralyzed a major transportation artery for the US Northeast, has prompted a thorough probe by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
According to a preliminary report released by the NTSB on Tuesday, the ill-fated Dali experienced multiple electrical blackouts, including one that occurred just 10 hours before its departure from Baltimore and another shortly before the tragic crash. The report details how the cargo ship suffered from a string of power outages, with electrical breakers unexpectedly tripping approximately 1 kilometer away from the bridge, resulting in a complete loss of power to all shipboard lighting and most equipment.
While the crew managed to restore power temporarily, another blackout struck just 320 meters from the bridge, causing all three steering pumps to cease functioning. This catastrophic failure left the crew unable to maneuver the rudder, rendering the vessel unsteerable on a collision course with the bridge.
The NTSB’s investigation is ongoing, with a particular focus on the electrical configuration following the initial in-port blackout and its potential impacts on the events leading up to the accident voyage. The report represents the first published investigative findings since the fully loaded container ship Dali caused the highway bridge to tumble into the Patapsco River, a shocking incident that has captured national attention.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy is scheduled to testify before a US House committee on Wednesday, shedding further light on the federal response to the collapse. The report found no issues with the quality of the fuel onboard the Dali, ruling out that potential contributing factor.
In a separate development, the FBI opened a criminal probe into the collapse in April, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough investigation into all potential causes and contributing factors.
Safety investigators have already recovered the ship’s “black box” recorder, which contains crucial data on its position, speed, heading, radar, and bridge audio and radio communications, as well as alarms. This data will likely play a pivotal role in piecing together the sequence of events that led to the tragic collision.
The bridge’s insurer, Chubb, announced plans this month to pay $350 million to the state of Maryland, potentially marking the first major payout tied to the collapse. This substantial sum underscores the significant financial implications and logistical challenges posed by the incident.
In a concerted effort to clear the wreckage and restore port access, US crews in Baltimore set off controlled explosions on Monday to remove a portion of the bridge from the bow of the Dali. This critical step will enable salvage crews to haul away the twisted metal wreckage using cranes and barges, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers.
While crews have opened four temporary channels since the crash, allowing some shipping to resume, the Corps aims to restore full port capacity by the end of May, a monumental task that highlights the far-reaching consequences of this disaster.
