Highlighting the vigilance of the 22 Indian crew members aboard the vessel ‘Dali’, which collided with a bridge in Baltimore, U.S. President Joe Biden praised their prompt action in signaling a ‘Mayday’. Their quick response helped prevent further casualties in the tragic incident.
Acknowledgment from the White House
“The personnel on board the ship promptly notified the Maryland Department of Transportation of their loss of control over the vessel. Consequently, local authorities were able to halt traffic on the bridge before impact, undoubtedly saving lives,” Biden remarked during a White House address.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore also credited the crew’s timely alert for saving lives.
Details of the Ship Collision
The container ship ‘Dali’ collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore, Maryland, around 1:30 a.m. local time on March 26. The collision caused significant damage, leading to the collapse of the bridge into the Patapsco River. However, all traffic on the bridge was halted in time following the ‘Mayday’ call from the vessel’s 22 crew, alerting local authorities of their power loss.
The ‘Mayday’ call triggered an immediate response, facilitating the evacuation of everyone on the bridge, potentially preventing further casualties.
Potential Casualties
Six members of a nighttime bridge construction crew are missing and feared dead. Efforts to locate their bodies are ongoing.
The Synergy Marine Group confirmed the safety of all 22 crew members, including the two pilots.
Cause of the Collision
While the exact cause of the accident is yet to be determined, Governor Moore acknowledged that the cargo ship had lost power before the incident.
Both federal and state officials have suggested that the incident was likely an accident. The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation, resulting in the indefinite suspension of ship traffic entering and departing from the Port of Baltimore.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge serves as a critical transportation route, accommodating 31,000 cars per day or 11.3 million vehicles annually. With the route suspended, both local and international shipping activities have been impacted.
