Cargo Ship that Struck Baltimore Bridge Carried Tonnes of Hazardous Materials, Investigation Reveals

Image Credits: WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore ( Youtube Video)

A recent investigation into the accident wherein the cargo Ship MV Dali rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore, has unveiled shocking findings.

The Ship MV Dali was carrying massive quantities of hazardous material, mostly corrosives, flammables, and class 9 hazardous materials, including lithium-ion batteries, in 56 containers weighing around 764 tonnes, according to Jennifer Homendy, head of the NTSB.

MV Dali Cargo Ship with 22 Indian Crew Members crashed into the bridge on March 26, 2024, after the vessel lost power and could not be controlled. 6 People died in the accident, and four bodies are still missing and are presumed dead.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed his sympathies to the families of the victims at this difficult time.

Video Credits: WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore

The NTSB has started investigating the accident, and Homendy says it could take two years.

Homendy added that the Francis Scott Key Bridge lacked redundancy, meaning if a member falls, the whole bridge or a portion would collapse. Bridges constructed today have some sort of structural redundancy.

Department of Homeland Security assessment said that images taken by underwater drones show a lot of metal pieces and debris, making it unsafe for divers to enter the waters.

Three cranes of the U.S Navy arrived in Baltimore to clear the submerged parts of the bridge, and another crane will arrive next week.

According to the U.S Navy, the Navy’s Biggest Crane, Chesapeake, has a 1000-ton lift capacity, Oyster Bay has a 150-ton lift capacity, and Ferrell has a 200-ton lift capacity.

The bridge will be disassembled and removed section by section, and the pieces will be moved through barges.

The statement added that 12 more cranes and support vessels, such as tugs, dive, and crew boats, will reach Baltimore in the coming weeks.

The Maryland Governor said that the freight is almost the size of the Eiffel Tower, with the Key Bridge on top and the shipping containers torn like paper mache.

References: WION News, India Today

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