A recent preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the cargo ship, Dali, which crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, experienced two separate power outages 10 hours before the incident. The report indicates that the first blackout occurred due to a crew member mistakenly closing an exhaust damper during maintenance, causing the engine to stall. The second outage happened after a generator, triggered by a loss of power, experienced a drop in fuel pressure.
The report does not specify whether the outages before departure were connected to the two later blackouts that led to the ship striking a bridge support beam. The subsequent blackouts resulted in a breaker trip that cut the ship’s propulsion, which was temporarily fixed, and a follow-up outage that occurred 0.2 miles from the bridge and could not be resolved before the collision, ultimately causing the bridge to collapse. The incident tragically resulted in the deaths of six construction workers on the bridge and one serious injury to a crew member on the Dali.
The NTSB is currently investigating the Dali’s power distribution system and working to determine the probable cause of the incident. A full investigation could take up to one year to complete. Despite the collision occurring over a month ago, the crew members of the Dali are still aboard the ship. They have been interviewed by investigators and had their phones seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
In an effort to clear the debris from the collapsed bridge, a section of the structure laying on top of the ship was destroyed in a controlled demolition. The Dali crew members were sheltered in a designated area on the ship during the demolition, which caused parts of the structure to fall into the water while some debris remained on the ship. Authorities are working to clear the ship and bridge debris by the end of the month to minimize any further risks or delays in the investigation and cleanup process.
The impact of the Baltimore bridge collapse extends beyond the immediate incident, with over 500 small businesses applying for federal disaster loans as the local economy faces potential risks. The aftermath of the disaster has significant implications for the community, and efforts are ongoing to address the economic challenges and support those affected by the incident. Stay tuned for more updates as the investigation into the Dali’s power issues and the bridge collapse continues to unfold in the coming months.
