A Year After Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Some Dali Crew Members Still Can’t Go Home

A year after the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed when the container ship Dali struck it, some of its crew members remain stranded in the US, unable to return home.

While most of the vessel’s crew has been repatriated, eight to eleven senior-ranking members are still in Baltimore as legal investigations and lawsuits continue.

The 21 crew members of the Singapore-flagged Dali were caught at the center of the disaster when the ship lost power and crashed into the bridge on March 26, 2024 leading to its collapse and the deaths of six construction workers.

After nearly two months entangled in the wreckage, the 948 foot container ship was pulled free and sent to Norfolk, Virginia, in June 2024 for repairs before departing for China in September.

However, federal authorities required the ship’s senior crew members to stay in Baltimore until the legal and investigative processes were complete.

Meanwhile, 10 lower-ranking crew members, including the ship’s cook, were allowed to return home in June after attorneys for Synergy Marine, which manages the Dali, and Baltimore city officials reached an agreement.

According to reports, ten of the remaining crew members are Indian, while one is from Sri Lanka. Families back home in India and Sri Lanka continue to ask when they will return, but the crew has been given no clear timeline.

A local Baltimore resident supporting them advised, “Plan on not knowing,” as their return is still unknown.

Stuck in an unfamiliar city far from home, the stranded seafarers have tried to keep themselves occupied. They watch cricket matches on livestream, play chess and carrom, and go on occasional tourism outings, such as visiting the National Mall in Washington, DC, and attending Orioles baseball games.

Since leaving the Dali in June, the crew members have been staying in furnished, extended stay apartments with access to amenities like fitness center. Synergy Marine is covering their salaries, living expenses and meal costs.

The crew has also been receiving assistance including the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center and the Apostleship of the Sea, which have organised grocery runs, provided winter clothing, and helped with transportation.

Without U.S. driver’s licenses, the crew members walk more than they are used to at sea and have relied on bicycles or public transportation to get around. Some crew members regularly visit Indian grocery stores to prepare meals, while others attend religious services, including Hindu temples and Catholic Masses.

One of the stranded seafarer managed to obtain a U.S. work permit and is now employed, while three others were temporarily allowed to return to India for urgent matters, including a medical procedure and a wedding.

Another crew member’s engagement was at risk after his fiancée’s family found out he was stuck in Baltimore, but he managed to travel home, get married, and return.

During a family visit, a crew member’s son fell ill due to the cold mid-Atlantic climate and had to be taken to an emergency room, resulting in a $1,500 medical bill that was covered by a London-based affiliate of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) confirmed that the Dali lost power at least four times in the 12 hours leading up to the crash, including two failures just before impact, which left the ship without propulsion or steering control. The investigation is still ongoing, with the final NTSB report expected to be released in the fall of 2025.

Baltimore’s Port remained closed for 11 weeks, causing millions of dollars in economic losses. The Dali’s owners and operators, Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Group, have faced multiple lawsuits from victims’ families, businesses, Baltimore city, and Baltimore county.

In October 2024, the companies agreed to pay $101.98 million to the U.S. government in a settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ accused the companies of gross negligence, calling the Dali “unseaworthy” and their actions “outrageous, reckless, and willful”.

Meanwhile, Baltimore officials continue to challenge the shipowners’ attempt to limit their liability to $44 million, while total losses from the incident are estimated to be between $1.5 billion and $4 billion.

Investigators found that state authorities failed to conduct risk assessments on the Key Bridge, which was 30 times more vulnerable to collapse than the acceptable limit for critical bridges.

Some crew members are considering whether to return to sea at all, with one repatriated crew member leaving the maritime industry altogether. All but one of the returned crew members have resumed work on other Synergy-managed ships.

Senior Synergy representatives regularly visit the remaining crew members, staying in close contact with their families and providing financial and emotional support.

References: thebaltimorebanner, cbsnews

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