Ship apparently lost power before slamming into Baltimore bridge causing collapse

Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY
Updated ·2 min read
3

The cargo ship that struck the Francis Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday apparently lost power a few minutes before drifting into the structure, collapsing a huge span and likely killing several people, according to a U.S official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

The Baltimore office of the FBI issued a statement saying terrorism was unlikely.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld speaks at a press conference about the collapse of the Key Bridge and the rescue operation underway on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, collapsed after it was struck by a large cargo ship, prompting a massive emergency response for multiple people in the water. The Baltimore City Fire Department described the collapse as a mass-casualty incident.

“There is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time,” the FBI statement said. "The investigation is ongoing. FBI Baltimore will continue to support our partners at the local, state, and federal levels.”

Authorities said six construction workers were missing after the accident. The ship is nearly the length of three football fields.

Coast Guard boats and a helicopter continued to search for survivors Tuesday afternoon, said petty officer Kimberly Reaves, a Coast Guard spokesperson.

Accidents at sea, known as marine casualties, are not uncommon, the U.S. official said. However, allisions, in which a moving object strikes a stationary one with catastrophic results, are far less common.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, collapsed March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland after it was struck by a large cargo ship, prompting a massive emergency response for multiple people in the water. The Baltimore City Fire Department described the collapse as a mass-casualty incident.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, collapsed March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland after it was struck by a large cargo ship, prompting a massive emergency response for multiple people in the water. The Baltimore City Fire Department described the collapse as a mass-casualty incident.

The investigation of the power loss aboard the M/V DALI, a Singapore-flagged vessel, will be a high priority and could be related to mechanical failure.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said that the ship traveling at a “very rapid speed” and issued a “Mayday” distress signal before the crash. Officials were able to stop the flow of traffic so more cars were not on the bridge, he said.

At 1:27 a.m., the Coast Guard received a report that the 948-foot ship had slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The initial report showed that the bridge had collapsed and people were in the water. Coast Guard crews from the Curtis Bay and Annapolis stations deployed for search and rescue operations.

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Atlantic City and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders were also dispatched. A 2000-yard safety zone was declared for the surrounding waters.

More: Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship hits it; construction crew missing: Live Updates

The Army Corps of Engineers is likely to be called on to help restore access to Baltimore harbor, a key transportation node, according to a defense official.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did the ship hit Baltimore's Francis Scott Key bridge?

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