A recent National Transportation Safety Board report has revealed that the cargo ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March after experiencing a power outage had actually suffered two separate blackouts 10 hours before the incident occurred. The report, which was published on Tuesday, indicates that there were more power issues leading up to the crash than previously known. The cargo ship, known as the Dali, lost power twice before departing from the Port of Baltimore, with the first blackout occurring due to a crew member mistakenly closing an exhaust damper during maintenance, causing the engine to stall. The second power outage happened after a generator, which started when the ship’s system detected a loss of power, experienced a loss in fuel pressure.
The preliminary report does not make clear whether the outages that happened prior to departure were connected to the two later blackouts that directly led to the Dali striking a bridge support beam. The later blackouts occurred just before the incident, and included a breaker trip that cut the ship’s propulsion, which was repaired, and a follow-up outage that took place 0.2 miles from the bridge and could not be fixed before the collision, resulting in the bridge collapsing. The report confirmed the deaths of six construction workers on the bridge at the time of the collapse, and noted that one of the Dali’s 23 crew members was seriously injured.
The NTSB is currently investigating the Dali’s power distribution system and 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 Dali’s crew members are still aboard the ship. They have been interviewed by investigators and had their phones seized, according to the Associated Press. A portion of the collapsed bridge that was still lying atop the ship was recently destroyed in a controlled demolition. Dali crew members were sheltered in a designated area on the ship during the demolition, which saw parts of the structure falling into the water while some debris remained on top of the ship. Authorities are working to clear the ship and bridge debris by the end of the month.
In related news, over 500 small businesses have applied for federal disaster loans in the wake of the Baltimore bridge collapse, which has posed risks to the local economy. As the cleanup efforts continue and authorities work to determine the cause of the incident, businesses in the area are facing challenges and uncertainty. With the final victim’s remains recovered from the collapsed bridge, the critical stage of removing the wreckage is nearing completion. As the investigation progresses, more updates are expected to provide clarity on the circumstances surrounding the tragic collision and its aftermath.
