The cargo ship Dali began its journey to Norfolk, Virginia, early Monday, departing the Port of Baltimore where it had been entrapped since the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge roughly three months ago. The 984-foot vessel, which suffered significant structural damage during the incident, was flanked by four tugboats as it initiated its voyage to Norfolk International Terminal for further repairs, according to Fox40.
In a tragic turn of events on March 26, the Dali lost power and propulsion, leading to its collision with a support column of the bridge, claiming the lives of six construction workers. Following the crash, the Dali was immobilized amid the bridge's wreckage for nearly two months, a massive steel truss sprawled across its bow. The Coast Guard, overseeing the current operation, has imposed a 500-yard safety zone around the Dali during transit to Virginia International Gateway, where the removal of approximately 1,500 cargo containers will take place to lighten its load, according to Fox40.
An ongoing investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the Dali had encountered two power outages before leaving the port, and right before the accident, the ship lost power once more, veering off course. The NTSB's final report, which will include conclusions and recommendations for safety is expected within the next year or two. The FBI has also launched a criminal inquiry into the circumstances of the collapse, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
While the majority of Dali’s crew were permitted to leave the U.S. last week, after an agreement confirmed by a federal judge demanded their availability for future depositions, eleven crew members, comprising high-ranking officers from India and Sri Lanka, remain in Baltimore due to ongoing litigation. Synergy Marine, the managing company for the Dali, is working alongside Grace Ocean, the ship's owner, to assist the stranded crew with food and housing provisions during the extended stay, with representatives from the company declaring efforts to get the remaining crew members home "as quickly as possible", as per CBS News Baltimore.
As officials work to ameliorate the economic impacts of the bridge collapse, which affected thousands of longshoremen, truckers, and businesses, progress has been made with the reopening of the Fort McHenry federal channel. Restoration of the port's normal traffic capacity remains a priority, and plans for a new bridge, hoping to be completed by 2028, are underway, per information from Fox40.
