Early Tuesday morning, a cargo ship lost power and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse into the Patapsco River. Eight workers were on the bridge at the time, two have been rescued, and six are missing and presumed dead. Search and rescue efforts were suspended by the U.S. Coast Guard but would resume recovery efforts in the morning. President Biden vowed to quickly rebuild the bridge and resume operations at the Port of Baltimore.
The cargo ship known as the Dali, under a Singaporean flag, lost power and crashed into a pillar, causing the bridge collapse. The crew sent out a Mayday signal, which allowed officials to stop traffic before more cars entered the bridge. The ship lost propulsion prior to the crash, following emergency protocols by dropping anchor. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the claims. The bridge was unable to absorb the energy brought by the massive ship, causing it to break. The Dali was previously involved in a 2016 crash at a Belgium port.
The collapse of the bridge could have a significant economic impact, causing disruption and commuter headaches for the area’s residents. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg warned of prolonged disruptions to supply chains, affecting the livelihoods of 15,000 people who depend on the port. President Biden promised federal resources to rebuild the bridge, as Baltimore is a vital port for handling automobiles and light trucks in the U.S. Over 40 ships are now trapped in the port, threatening the disruption of the industry.
Motorists are advised to use alternative routes as the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse has closed parts of I-695. Traffic delays are expected to last for weeks or months as officials cope with the loss of a major commuter artery. The collapse also affects cruise ships that have to be diverted to alternative ports. Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean ships will be redirected, while operations at the Baltimore port will temporarily move to Norfolk, VA. The full extent of the recovery process and when operations will return to normal remains uncertain.
The NTSB will conduct a full investigation into the cause of the crash, leading to the bridge’s collapse. The timeline for clearing the wreckage, constructing a new bridge, resuming port operations, and restoring traffic patterns to normal remains uncertain. Past experiences, like the I-35W Mississippi River Bridge collapse in 2007, may provide some insight into the recovery process. The replacement bridge took roughly a year to construct and cost $234 million, significantly shorter than the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.
