A cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday, collapsing the bridge and kicking off a massive search and rescue operation for six missing people.
The operators of the Dali cargo ship issued a mayday call before the crash, reporting that the vessel had lost power. The 985-foot-long (300-meter-long) vessel collided with one of the 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) bridge’s supports, causing the span to break and fall into the water within seconds. Subsequently, the ship caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.
The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) of Singapore confirmed that the Dali was en route to Sri Lanka. The vessel was loaded with dozens of cargo containers carrying Maersk customers’ cargo. At the time of the incident, there were 22 crew members onboard, although Maersk stated that none of its crew and personnel were on the vessel.
According to data from the Maryland Port Administration, the port handled more than 750,000 vehicles in 2023, making it the busiest in the U.S. for car shipments. Additionally, it holds the title of the largest U.S. port by volume for handling farm and construction machinery, along with agricultural products.
The collapse prompted Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott to issue an executive order declaring a State of Emergency. The order activates the City of Baltimore’s emergency operations plan to deploy emergency resources for protecting those affected by the incident.
This State of Emergency started at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, and will continue for thirty days.
The Francis Scott Key bridge after the collapse. Image via Reuters.
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Federal government to provide assistance
U.S. President Joe Biden offered condolences to victims and their relatives for the “terrible accident” and pledged that the federal government would provide whatever assistance was necessary to aid in the search and rescue effort, as well as the rebuilding of the infrastructure.
“Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we’re going to do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers,” Biden said, speaking from the White House.
“It’s my intention that the federal government is going to pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect Congress to support my effort.”
The collapse is expected to undoubtedly cause logistical complications for months, if not years, in the region. This will result in the shutdown of ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, which is a significant shipping hub. Additionally, the accident will cause disruptions to both cargo and commuter traffic.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld announced that all ship traffic into and out of the port has been suspended until further notice, although the port remains accessible to trucks.
The port serves as a major East Coast hub for shipping. It spans the Patapsco River, which large cargo ships utilize to access the Chesapeake Bay and then the Atlantic Ocean.
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