Maryland officials updated their cost estimate range for a new bridge to between $4.3 billion and $5.2 billion. The latest estimates come a day before the National Transportation Safety Board’s hearing on the 2024 collapse.
Rebuilding Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is going to cost a lot more, and take a lot longer, than originally hoped.
The Maryland Transportation Authority said Monday its board is updating its cost estimate range for the new bridge as $4.3-$5.2 billion — well over double the state’s initial estimate of around $2 billion.
In a news release, the agency said it now anticipates the bridge will open to traffic in late 2030, rather than the initial projection of 2028.
The initial estimates were made less than two weeks after a container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, causing the structure to plummet into the Patapsco River and killing six construction workers who were on the bridge.
“A preliminary estimate was needed to request federal emergency relief funding for immediate cleanup and recovery,” MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner said in a news release. “Typically, a cost estimate would not be provided on a project of this size until much later in the design process.”
Since that initial estimate, material costs have increased dramatically, according to the agency. Advanced design of the bridge and preconstruction activities gave the Maryland Transportation Authority more data to inform its updated projection.
Construction company Kiewit is leading the rebuild project.
Also contributing to the increased cost are efforts to prevent a repeat of March 26, 2024.
“The updated cost range and schedule are directly correlated to increased material costs and to a robust pier protection system designed to protect the new Key Bridge and reduce the likelihood of a future ship strike to the bridge’s foundational piers,” Acting Transportation Secretary and MDTA Chair Samantha Biddle said.
The protective fenders planned for the new bridge are larger than a football field, which was not accounted for in the preliminary estimate, according to the agency.
“Just as families across the country are dealing with the reality of increased costs, so is Maryland. Trade policies out of Washington, D.C. have raised prices on everything — including essential materials we need in order to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Still, despite this new economic reality, our resolve is unwavering,” Gov. Wes Moore said in a statement Monday.
In its news release, the transportation authority pointed to the American Relief Act, which authorized more than $8 billion for the Emergency Relief Program and committed to fully funding the Key Bridge replacement.
President Donald Trump has signaled he may revisit that commitment, which was made under former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Moore said state officials will continue working with the Trump administration to “find ways to reduce costs and rebuild faster.”
Efforts in court to win damages from the owner and manager of the container ship that brought down the bridge are ongoing and could last years. Those funds would go toward the bridge’s reconstruction, the transportation authority said.
“We continue to move forward in our efforts to pursue litigation against those responsible, so taxpayers aren’t on the hook,” Moore said.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
The NTSB will hold a public hearing Tuesday on the 2024 crash and collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge across the Patapsco River in Baltimore.
The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday is holding a public hearing into the March 26, 2024, crash and collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge across the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland.
The NTSB said its board will vote on findings, probable cause and safety recommendations during the hearing.
Six construction workers died when the container ship MV Dali struck the bridge around 1:30 a.m., bringing the structure down in less than a minute.
Stacy Tetschner, CEO of the Virginia-based American Traffic Safety Services Association, said the tragedy underscores the need for worker safety.
“You would have thought it was the safest time to be up there and that a vessel wouldn’t have lost power and crashed into the bridge like that,” Tetschner said. “These are six people whose families were relying on them, and so worker safety has to remain at the forefront of everything we do when we see people working out on the roadways.”
The six workers who died were on the bridge to patch potholes when the ship hit:
Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, foreman
Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26
Maynor Yassir Suazo Sandoval, 38
Carlos Daniel Hernández Estrella
Miguel Angel Luna Gonzalez, 49
José Mynor López, 37
Two other workers were rescued with injuries.
The collapse is among the most expensive infrastructure disasters in U.S. history. Maryland officials said it will be remembered for decades.
Officials estimate replacing the bridge will cost at least $2 billion, with federal funds and insurance expected to cover most of it. President Donald Trump has signaled he may revisit a congressional commitment made under former President Joe Biden’s administration to fully fund the replacement.
Meanwhile, families of the victims, along with Maryland and Baltimore officials, have not reached a settlement with the ship’s owners and are pursuing lawsuits. The NTSB is expected to reveal the definitive cause of the disaster and issue safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes.
“Sometimes there is a perfect storm, and it happens on occasion. Unfortunately, this is one of those times,” Tetschner said. “These aren’t just six random workers that were out working one night. These are six people that didn’t come home. Those are still six people, six people that deserve our respect and six people that deserve to be remembered.”
In this aerial image released by the Maryland National Guard, the cargo ship Dali is stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Baltimore. (Maryland National Guard via AP)
What happened on March 26, 2024
Video of the collision, seen worldwide, showed the ship’s lights flicker moments before impact. A backup generator restored power shortly after, but it was too late to steer the vessel away from a bridge support.
The ship had just left the Port of Baltimore, beginning a voyage to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Investigators said the crew reported electrical problems before the crash, and moments before impact the ship suffered a “complete blackout,” drifting at low speed out of the shipping channel toward the 47-year-old, four-lane, 1.6-mile bridge that carried Interstate 695 between Hawkins Point in Baltimore and Sellers Point in Dundalk.
The NTSB’s preliminary report was released May 10, followed by a Sept. 12 update that cited multiple electrical issues aboard the MV Dali. The ship experienced two electrical failures while docked in Baltimore the day before departure. Investigators believe a loose cable in the electrical system was the likely cause.
Structural engineers with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials estimate the slow-moving ship, which is larger than three football fields, hit the Key Bridge with a force possibly eight times greater than a Saturn V rocket launch. A mayday call allowed police to stop traffic from driving onto the bridge before impact.
Recovering from collapse and rebuilding Key Bridge
The collapse disrupted freight traffic at the Port of Baltimore, the nation’s busiest port for what’s called ‘roll on, roll off’ cargo, such as cars, trucks and heavy equipment. Coal shipments were also affected. For 11 weeks, shipping nearly halted, though smaller channels were opened to move some cargo. Cleanup and recovery have cost at least $100 million so far, and litigation could last years.
At the same time, the U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland officials and hundreds of highly skilled workers, including divers, welders and crane operators, removed tons of metal and other debris from the bridge to eventually open the full channel so the port could resume operations.
Maryland officials have begun planning a replacement bridge.
In February, Gov. Wes Moore unveiled a design concept with a 230-foot vertical clearance to accommodate larger container ships.
The new cable-stayed bridge will be two miles long, slightly wider than the old span, and include two 12-foot lanes in each direction with wider shoulders, according to design renderings released in October.
Construction is expected to begin next year and finish in late 2028.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
The owner and manager of the cargo ship that caused the Baltimore bridge collapse have agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department, officials said Thursday.
A small beach below the remaining portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is seen, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Turner Station, Md. The water is unsafe for swimming and fishing from decades of industrial pollution. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)(AP/Stephanie Scarbrough)
A small beach below the remaining portion of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is seen, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, in Turner Station, Md. The water is unsafe for swimming and fishing from decades of industrial pollution. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)(AP/Stephanie Scarbrough)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The owner and manager of the cargo ship that caused the Baltimore bridge collapse have agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department, officials said Thursday.
The settlement comes a month after the Justice Department sued Dali owner Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and manager Synergy Marine Group, both of Singapore, seeking to recover more than $100 million that the government spent to clear the underwater debris and reopen the city’s port.
“This resolution ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy and not the American taxpayer,” Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer said in a statement.
The Justice Department alleged that the electrical and mechanical systems on the ship, the Dali, were improperly maintained, causing it to lose power and veer off course before striking a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.
The collapse snarled commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore for months before the channel was fully opened in June.
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Baltimore longshoremen, still recovering from the impacts of the Key Bridge collapse, expressed their concerns about a looming strike that could be devastating to the nation’s consumer supply.
Thousands of dockworkers along the East and Gulf coasts, including in Baltimore, could strike if a new labor agreement is not reached by Tuesday, Oct. 1, with shipping companies represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance.
The International Longshoreman’s Association, which represents 45,000 dockworkers at three dozen U.S. ports, wants better wages and protection from job-killing automation.
“I think once we exhaust our savings, I mean, we don’t know what the next move is going to be, so were are quite unprepared in all honesty,” said Baltimore longshoreman Alonzo Key.
Dockworkers at the Port of Baltimore lost wages because of the port’s closure following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse last March. Next week, the port could once again see production come to a halt.
East Coast and Gulf Coast ports handle roughly 43% of all U.S. imports and bring in billions of dollars worth of consumer goods, ranging from car parts, to produce and pharmaceutical drugs. A strike could also mean higher shipping costs and prices.
“In terms of a strike, which we hope to avoid, everyone starts back at zero,” said Baltimore longshoreman Ryan Hale.
Some of the longshoremen told WJZ they are prepared to strike but are nervous because they don’t know when their next paycheck will come.
Alonzo Key said the dockworkers want to be compensated appropriately for the dangerous work they do.
Union workers at ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast earn a base wage of $39 an hour after six years on the job. That is significantly less than their unionized West Coast peers, who make $54.85 an hour — a rate that will increase to $60.85 in 2027, excluding overtime and benefits, according to CBS News.
“There are no second chances at the Port of Baltimore,” Key said. “It’s an extremely dangerous job.”
Baltimore’s longshoremen filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Grace Ocean Ltd., and Synergy Marine Group, the Singapore-based owner and manager of the cargo ship that crashed into the Key Bridge, causing it to collapse, on March 26.
The lawsuit, filed by civil rights attorney Billy Murphy, claims the longshoremen should be compensated for lost wages while the port was closed.
“This is equivalent to a longshoreman to what the world experienced during COVID when everything stopped,” Ryan Hale said.
Years after immigrating to the U.S. and settling in the Baltimore area, Maria del Carmen Castellón was working toward a new chapter of her family’s American dream, hoping to expand her successful food truck business into a Salvadoran restaurant.
Baltimore Bridge Victims Maria del Carmen Castellón, the wife of Miguel Luna, a welder who died during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, places a rose near a portrait of her husband and his welding gear before speaking during a press conference, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Baltimore Bridge Victims Maria del Carmen Castellón, the wife of Miguel Luna, a welder who died during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, becomes emotional while speaking during a press conference, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Baltimore Bridge Victims A portrait of Miguel Luna, a worker who died during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, is displayed among articles of his welding gear, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, during a press conference in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Baltimore Bridge Victims Maria del Carmen Castellón, center, the wife of Miguel Luna, a welder who died during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, speaks during a press conference, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Baltimore Bridge Victims A portrait of Miguel Luna, a worker who died during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, is displayed among articles of his welding gear, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, during a press conference in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Baltimore Bridge Victims Gustavo Torres, executive director of advocacy organization CASA, speaks during a press conference among relatives of Miguel Luna, a worker who died during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Baltimore Bridge Victims Maria del Carmen Castellón, the wife of Miguel Luna, a welder who died during the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, speaks during a press conference, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker. In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.
Key Bridge victims’ families to take legal action against shipowner
BALTIMORE (AP) — Years after immigrating to the U.S. and settling in the Baltimore area, Maria del Carmen Castellón was working toward a new chapter of her family’s American dream, hoping to expand her successful food truck business into a Salvadoran restaurant.
Her husband, Miguel Luna, was right there beside her. Years of welding and construction jobs had begun taking a toll on his health, but he kept working hard because he couldn’t afford to retire yet. He was filling potholes on an overnight shift when disaster struck. A massive container ship lost power and slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, sending Luna and five other men plunging to their deaths as the steel span collapsed into the water below.
Several months later, Luna’s family is still struggling to construct a future without him.
“That day, a wound was opened in my heart that will never heal, something I would not wish on anyone,” Castellón said in Spanish, speaking through a translator at a news conference Tuesday.
She appeared alongside other victims’ relatives and attorneys to announce their plans to take legal action against the owner and manager of the Dali, arguing the companies acted with negligence and ignored problems on the ship before the March 26 collapse.
A last-minute mayday call from the ship’s pilot allowed police officers to stop traffic to the bridge, but they didn’t have time to alert the road work crew. Most of the men were sitting in their construction vehicles during a break and had no warning. One survived falling from the bridge by manually opening the window of his truck and climbing out into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River.
Following the disaster, salvage divers worked around the clock to recover the victims’ bodies. The underwater wreckage blocked the main channel into the Port of Baltimore for months, disrupting East Coast shipping routes and putting many longshoremen temporarily out of work.
All six of the victims were Latino immigrants who came to the U.S. seeking better-paying jobs and opportunities for their families. Most had lived in the country for many years, including Luna, who grew up in El Salvador. He left behind five children.
Luna would often go straight from a construction shift to helping at the food truck, where his wife served up pupusas and other Salvadoran dishes. The business attracted a diverse clientele and had a loyal following in their close-knit Latino community south of Baltimore.
Castellón said the business symbolized their shared vision for the future. Just days before his death, Luna surprised her with a visit to the storefront they hoped to rent.
“Every mile driven in that food truck, every vegetable chopped took us a step closer to our dreams,” she said.
She recalled how he stopped by the food truck before heading to work the last time. She gave him dinner and he gave her a kiss.
In seeking justice for her family, Castellón said, she hopes to prevent future tragedies by advocating for safer working conditions. She wants more robust protections for immigrant workers who too often find themselves taking dangerous jobs no one else is willing to do. She displayed a pair of her husband’s old welding uniforms, noting holes in the fabric caused by flying sparks.
Gustavo Torres, executive director of the Maryland-based advocacy group CASA, said it should come as no surprise that the victims of the collapse were immigrant workers. He said their suffering must not be brushed under the rug by corporate interests.
“No financial loss can compare to the loss of human life,” Torres said at the news conference, calling the victims “six irreplaceable souls” whose loved ones are trying to pick up the pieces after their worlds were destroyed in an instant.
The Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and managed by Synergy Marine Group, both of Singapore. The companies filed a court petition days after the collapse seeking to limit their legal liability, a routine procedure for cases litigated under U.S. maritime law. The joint filing seeks to cap their liability at roughly $43.6 million in what could become the most expensive marine casualty case in history.
Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for the ship’s owner, said the victims’ upcoming challenge was anticipated and noted there is a Sept. 24 deadline for such filings in the case. He declined to comment further on the pending litigation.
Several other interested parties, including city officials and local businesses, have already filed opposing claims accusing the companies of negligence. Filings on behalf of the victims and their families are expected in coming days.
Preliminary findings from a National Transportation Safety Board investigation show that the Dali experienced a series of electrical issues before and after leaving the Port of Baltimore. The ship was destined for Sri Lanka when it experienced a power blackout and lost steering at the worst possible moment. The FBI launched an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash.
A plan is underway to rebuild the bridge, but it could take years.
Meanwhile, Castellón said she plans to continue pursuing her dream of opening a restaurant — now in her husband’s honor.
“I know he is up there watching down on me, celebrating all of the victories with me,” she said. “I will continue to make him proud.”
Investigators probing the March collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore said in a preliminary report Tuesday the cargo ship Dali experienced an electrical blackout about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore while undergoing maintenance.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore joins WTOP’s Brennan Haselton and Anne Kramer to talk about the release of a preliminary report from NTSB on the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse.
Remnants of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and the cargo ship Dali are seen, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore. For safety reasons, officials postponed a controlled demolition, which was planned for Sunday, to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed bridge. The bridge came crashing down under the impact of the massive container ship on March 26. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)(AP/Steve Ruark)
Remnants of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and the cargo ship Dali are seen, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore. For safety reasons, officials postponed a controlled demolition, which was planned for Sunday, to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed bridge. The bridge came crashing down under the impact of the massive container ship on March 26. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)(AP/Steve Ruark)
BALTIMORE (AP) — The cargo ship Dali experienced electrical blackouts about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore and yet again shortly before it slammed into the Francis Key Bridge and killed six construction workers, federal investigators said Tuesday, providing the most detailed account yet of the tragedy.
The power outage occurred after a crewmember mistakenly closed an exhaust damper, causing the ship’s engine to stall, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board said in their preliminary report. Shortly after leaving Baltimore early on March 26, the ship crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns because another power outage caused it to lose steering and propulsion at the exact worst moment.
The report provides new details about how the ship’s crew addressed the power issues it experienced while still docked in Baltimore. A full investigation could take a year or more, according to the safety board.
Testing of the ship’s fuel did not reveal any concerns related to its quality, according to the report.
The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, laden with shipping containers and enough supplies for a monthlong voyage.
After the initial blackout caused by the closed exhaust damper, investigators say a backup generator automatically came on. It continued to run for a short period — until insufficient fuel pressure caused it to kick off again, resulting in a second blackout. That’s when crewmembers made changes to the ship’s electrical configuration, switching from one transformer and breaker system it had been using for several months to another that was in use upon its departure, according to the report.
Investigators stopped short of drawing a direct line between those earlier power issues and the blackout that ultimately caused the bridge collapse.
“The NTSB is still investigating the electrical configuration following the first in-port blackout and potential impacts on the events during the accident voyage,” investigators wrote.
The safety board launched its investigation almost immediately after the collapse, which sent six members of a roadwork crew plunging to their deaths. Investigators boarded the ship to document the scene and collect evidence, including the vessel’s data recorder and information from its engine room, according to board chair Jennifer Homendy. Investigators also interviewed the captain and crew members.
“Our mission is to determine why something happened, how it happened and to prevent it from recurring,” Homendy said at a news conference days after the disaster.
The preliminary report details the chaotic moments prior to the bridge collapse while crewmembers scrambled to address a series of electrical failures that came in quick succession as disaster loomed.
At 1:25 a.m. on March 26, when the Dali was a little over half a mile away from the bridge, electrical breakers that fed most of the ship’s equipment and lighting unexpectedly tripped, causing a power loss. The main propulsion diesel engine automatically shut down after its cooling pumps lost power, and the ship lost steering.
Crewmembers were able to momentarily restore electricity by manually closing the tripped breakers, the report says.
Around that time, the ship’s pilots called for tugboats to come help guide the wayward vessel. The tugboats that guided it out of the port had peeled off earlier per normal practice, according to the report. Crewmembers also started the process of dropping anchor, and the pilots’ dispatcher called the Maryland Transportation Authority Police and relayed that the ship had lost power. The pilots’ dispatcher notified the Coast Guard.
The ship was less than a quarter-mile from the bridge when it experienced a second power blackout because of more tripped breakers, according to the report. The crew again restored power, but it was too late to avoid striking the bridge.
One of the pilots ordered the rudder turned at the last minute, but since the main engine remained shut down, there was no propulsion to assist with steering, the report says. They also made a mayday call that allowed police to stop traffic to the bridge.
At 1:29 a.m., the 1.6-mile steel span came crashing down into the Patapsco River. The workers were sitting in their vehicles during a break when disaster struck.
The last of the victims’ bodies was recovered last week.
One member of the seven-person crew survived the collapse by somehow freeing himself from his work truck. He was rescued from the water later that morning. A road maintenance inspector also survived by running to safety in the moments before the bridge fell.
On Monday, crews conducted a controlled demolition to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed bridge, which landed draped across the Dali’s bow, pinning the grounded ship amid the wreckage. The damaged ship is expected to be refloated and guided back to the Port of Baltimore in the coming days.
It arrived in the U.S. from Singapore on March 19, a week before the crash, according to the report. It made stops in Newark, New Jersey, and Norfolk, Virginia, before coming to Baltimore. Investigators said they were not aware of any other power outages occurring in those ports.
They said they’re working with Hyundai, the manufacturer of the ship’s electrical system, to “identify the cause(s) of the breakers unexpectedly opening while approaching the Key Bridge and the subsequent blackouts.”
The board’s preliminary report released Tuesday likely includes a fraction of the findings that will be presented in its final report, which is expected to take more than a year.
Crews conducted a controlled demolition Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
WTOP’s Dick Uliano reports from Baltimore following the demolition at the Key Bridge collapse site
See photos of the explosion below.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Crews set off a chain of carefully placed explosives Monday to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, and with a boom and a splash, the mangled steel trusses came crashing down into the river below.
The explosives flashed orange and let off plumes of black smoke upon detonation. The longest trusses toppled away from the grounded Dali container ship and slid off its bow, sending a wall of water splashing back toward the ship.
It marked a major step in freeing the ship, which has been stuck amid the wreckage since it lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s support columns shortly after leaving Baltimore on March 26. The demolished span came crashing down on the ship’s bow and remained resting on its deck for the past six weeks.
The collapse killed six construction workers and halted most maritime traffic through Baltimore’s busy port. The controlled demolition will allow the Dali to be refloated and restore traffic through the port, which will provide relief for thousands of longshoremen, truckers and small business owners who have seen their jobs impacted by the closure.
Officials said the detonation went as planned. They said the next step in the dynamic cleanup process is to assess the few remaining trusses on the Dali’s bow and make sure none of the underwater wreckage is preventing the ship from being refloated and moved.
“It’s a lot like peeling back an onion,” said Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Officials still expect to refloat the ship within the next few days.
“This was a very big milestone for our progression forward,” said Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore District Commander for the Army Corps of Engineers. She said crews don’t anticipate having to use any more explosives.
The Dali’s 21-member crew remained onboard the ship during the detonation, and no injuries or problems were reported, said Capt. David O’Connell, commander of the Port of Baltimore.
The crew members haven’t been allowed to leave the grounded vessel since the disaster. Officials said they’ve been busy maintaining the ship and assisting investigators. Of the crew members, 20 are from India and one is Sri Lankan.
In a videographic released this week, authorities said engineers were using precision cuts to control how the trusses break down. They said the method allows for “surgical precision” and is one of the safest and most efficient ways to remove steel under a high level of tension.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI are conducting investigations into the bridge collapse.
Danish shipping giant Maersk had chartered the Dali for a planned trip from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, but the ship didn’t get far. Its crew sent a mayday call saying they had lost power and had no control of the steering system. Minutes later, the ship rammed into the bridge.
Explosive charges are detonated to bring down sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the container ship Dali on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Baltimore.
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Explosive charges are detonated to bring down sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the container ship Dali on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Baltimore.
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
The collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge rests on the container ship Dali, Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore, as seen from Riviera Beach, Md. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the Dali was postponed on Sunday.
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
American flags fly on a docked boat as the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge rests on the container ship Dali on Sunday, May 12, 2024, in Baltimore, as seen from Riviera Beach, Md. An effort to remove sections of the collapsed bridge resting on the Dali was postponed on Sunday.
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Explosive charges are detonated to bring down sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the container ship Dali on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Baltimore.
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Explosive charges are detonated to bring down sections of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting on the container ship Dali on Monday, May 13, 2024, in Baltimore.
(AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Attorneys for Julio Cervantes and families of two of the workers who died in the Baltimore bridge collapse are taking legal action against the owner of the Dali container ship.
Attorneys for Julio Cervantes and families of two of the workers who died in the Baltimore Bridge collapse speak during a news conference announcing an investigation and legal action against the owner of the Dali container ship.(WTOP/Scott Gelman)
Attorneys for Julio Cervantes and families of two of the workers who died in the Baltimore Bridge collapse speak during a news conference announcing an investigation and legal action against the owner of the Dali container ship.(WTOP/Scott Gelman)
As the Dali cargo vessel approached Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, construction workers on it were repairing potholes.
In the seconds before the ship struck the bridge, its pilot made a mayday call. That enabled local law enforcement to help stop any additional traffic from driving on the bridge.
But, according to attorneys for Julio Cervantes, the only worker who went fully into the water and survived, the crew wasn’t warned about the imminent collision.
Instead, the attorneys said, workers were sitting in their cars on a break.
Lawyers from the firms Stewart Miller Simmons and Kreindler & Kreindler are representing Cervantes and families of two of the workers who died.
“He fought for his life and he survived,” attorney Justin Miller said of Cervantes during a news conference on Monday announcing their own investigation into the incident.
More on the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse
As the bridge started to collapse, Cervantes watched as everyone fell into the water, attorney L. Chris Stewart said. He was able to survive, Stewart said, because his car’s window was manual. Cervantes was able to roll down the window and escape.
“You can imagine how frightening that is,” Stewart said.
Cervantes can’t swim, but he was able to hang on to a piece of debris.
“He was stranded on, I believe, it was a rock or a piece of metal that was floating by,” Stewart said.
First responders were ultimately able to rescue Cervantes.
“It’s left him with severe mental and emotional pain and suffering,” Stewart said. “He lost family members in that. Some of the workers were related, including some of his family who perished.”
When asked if there’s a protocol in emergency situations and whether the workers should have been warned, Stewart said, “We’ll learn more as the investigation is ongoing. We don’t have any further information on that right now.”
At the news conference, attorneys announced plans to launch their own investigation into the crash and take legal action against Grace Ocean, which owns the Dali.
Synergy Marine Group, which manages the ship, and Grace Ocean filed a court petition after the collapse seeking to limit their legal liability, The Associated Press reported. The companies, the attorneys said, are trying to cap the amount of money they would have to pay out by citing the Limitation of Liability Act.
The case is expected to proceed in September.
“As the bodies of our clients were still under the bridge, the owner of this boat was in court trying to protect their assets,” Stewart said.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
The FBI is conducting a criminal investigation into the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge that is focused on the circumstances leading up to it and whether all federal laws were followed, according to a person familiar with the matter.
This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker. In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.
Police divers at Baltimore bridge collapse struggle with ‘zero visibility’ underwater
More on the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse
BALTIMORE (AP) — The massive container ship that caused the deadly collapse of a Baltimore bridge experienced apparent electrical issues before it left port but set out anyway, someone with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday, hours after the FBI said it was investigating whether any laws might have been broken.
The Dali left Baltimore’s port early on March 26 laden with cargo destined for Sri Lanka when it struck one of the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s supports, causing the span to collapse into the Patapsco River and sending six members of a roadwork crew plummeting to their deaths. Three of their bodies have been recovered.
The Dali experienced apparent electrical issues before leaving port, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment, said alarms went off on the ship’s refrigerated containers while it was still docked in Baltimore, likely indicating an inconsistent power supply.
The ship’s crew was aware of the issues and indicated they would be addressed, according to the person.
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board have said their investigation will include an inquiry into whether the ship experienced power issues before starting its voyage.
Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said last week that the investigation is focused on the ship’s electrical system generally. The ship experienced power issues moments before the crash, as is evident in videos that show its lights going out and coming back on.
Homendy said information gleaned from the vessel’s voyage data recorder is relatively basic, “so that information in the engine room will help us tremendously.”
The FBI said Monday that it is conducting a criminal investigation into the bridge collapse that is focused on the circumstances leading up to it and whether all federal laws were followed, according to a different person familiar with the matter. The person wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.
FBI agents were aboard the cargo ship on Monday conducting court-authorized law enforcement activity, the agency said in a statement. It didn’t elaborate and said it wouldn’t comment further on the investigation, which was first reported by The Washington Post.
Meanwhile, Mayor Brandon Scott issued a statement Monday announcing a partnership with two law firms to “launch legal action to hold the wrongdoers responsible” and mitigate harm to the people of Baltimore. He said the city needs to act quickly to protect its own interests.
Scott said the city “will take decisive action to hold responsible all entities accountable for the Key Bridge tragedy,” including the owner, operator and manufacturer of the cargo ship Dali, which began its journey roughly a half-hour before losing power and veering off course.
The Dali is managed by Synergy Marine Group and owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., both of Singapore. Danish shipping giant Maersk chartered the Dali.
Synergy and Grace Ocean filed a court petition soon after the collapse seeking to limit their legal liability — a routine procedure for cases litigated under U.S. maritime law. Their joint filing seeks to cap the companies’ liability at roughly $43.6 million. It estimates that the vessel itself is valued at up to $90 million and was owed over $1.1 million in income from freight. The estimate also deducts two major expenses: at least $28 million in repair costs and at least $19.5 million in salvage costs.
“Due to the magnitude of the incident, there are various government agencies conducting investigations, in which we are fully participating,” Synergy spokesperson Darrell Wilson said in a statement Monday. “Out of respect for these investigations and any future legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
The companies filed their petition under a provision of an 1851 maritime law that allows them to seek to limit their liability to the value of the vessel’s remains after a casualty.
Attorneys for some of the victims and a worker who survived the collapse argued Monday that the companies that own and manage the ship are taking advantage of an “archaic law” in attempting to protect their assets.
“Imagine telling that to grieving families … while they’re planning a funeral, the owner of the boat is in court,” attorney L. Chris Stewart said during a news conference in Baltimore.
The road crew “absolutely had zero warning” in the moments before the collapse, Stewart said, even though a last-minute mayday call from the ship’s pilot allowed nearby police officers to stop traffic from trying to cross the span. Three of the workers’ bodies are still missing, as crews continue the dangerous work of removing massive chunks of steel from the river.
Julio Cervantes, who survived falling from the bridge, narrowly escaped drowning by rolling down his work vehicle’s window and fighting through the frigid water despite being unable to swim, attorneys said. He clung to debris until he was rescued.
“This was all preventable,” Stewart said. “That is why we were brought in to investigate and find out what has happened and give these families a voice.”
Police divers continue to investigate the collapse of Baltimore’s Key Bridge — even though visibility in the water is extremely poor.
The mission is daunting at the site of the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, as crews have to remove 50,000 tons of debris.
This page contains a video which is being blocked by your ad blocker. In order to view the video you must disable your ad blocker.
Police divers at Baltimore bridge collapse struggle with ‘zero visibility’ underwater
Nonetheless, police divers are there continuing an investigation into the collapse.
Visibility under the water is extremely poor, however.
“Best case scenario is you might be able to see eight inches in front of your face,” said Maryland State Police Cpl. Lyle German, who’s with the department’s underwater recovery team. “Worst case scenario, it’s like wearing one of those sleep masks, and you have zero visibility.”
The divers wear stainless steel helmets for protection as they swim around twisted metal and concrete.
They don’t have scuba tanks. Instead, they breath through a tube that goes right up to the surface, allowing them to stay down for as long as they need.
“We train for this,” said Maryland State Police Detective Sgt. Justin Updegraff, the commander of the underwater recovery team. “More times than not, the divers will actually close their eyes because they can’t see.”
Updegraff said the divers “move their arms left and right like a windshield wiper.”
“We train like that in a pool, putting them in blacked-out masks,” Updegraff said.
German said it’s similar to someone messing up your room, turning the lights off and then telling you to find a specific item.
And using a flashlight doesn’t help.
Multiple agencies are working out of the bridge cleanup command center in Baltimore. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
“Have you ever driven through a snowstorm and put your brights on?” German asked. “It doesn’t help at all — there are a lot of particulates down there.”
The Maryland State Police dive team is working alongside numerous agencies at a command center that’s been established at the cruise terminal in Baltimore where cruise ships would normally be taking vacationers out to sea.
Agencies operating out of the center include the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland Transportation Authority, among others.
“We work best when we’re working with our partners,” said Lt. Cmdr. Amanda Faulkner with the Coast Guard. “This is how we are meant to work — in collaboration.”
Faulkner said one of the first priorities will be to partially open the main shipping channel at the Port of Baltimore.
“That will allow us to get back up to 75% of pre-collapse operations through the waterway,” Faulkner said, adding that the hope is to get that done before the end of the month.
Crews will then need to remove bridge debris from the cargo ship, get the ship off the river and fully reopen the channel to commerce.
Officials have said all of that will likely take another month, at least.
The bridge collapsed on March 26 after being struck by the cargo ship Dali, which lost power shortly after leaving Baltimore, bound for Sri Lanka.
Those operating the ship issued a mayday alert with just enough time for police to stop traffic, but not enough to save a roadwork crew filling potholes on the bridge.
Authorities believe six workers — immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador — plunged to their deaths in the Patapsco River.
The bodies of three have been recovered, but the search for the other victims continues.
Baltimore District Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Col. Estee Pinchasin who joined WTOP’s Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer for a live interview to discuss the Key Bridge recovery efforts.
It’s been two weeks since a giant container ship slammed into Baltimore’s Key Bridge sending most of the bridge plunging into the Patapsco River.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Estee Pinchasin is spearheading recovery efforts at the wreckage of the Baltimore Key Bridge. (Courtesy Executive Office of the Governor)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Estee Pinchasin is spearheading recovery efforts at the wreckage of the Baltimore Key Bridge. (Courtesy Executive Office of the Governor)
Crews from federal and state agencies are trying to get everything cleaned up and moved out of the shipping channel to try and get it reopened so larger ships can make their way to the Port of Baltimore — an extremely complex task.
One of those on the front line of the operation is the Baltimore District Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers Col. Estee Pinchasin, who joined WTOP’s Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer for a live interview from Dundalk, Maryland.
Listen to the full interview below, and read the transcript. .
Baltimore District Commander of US Army Corps of Engineers Col. Estee Pinchasin
Anne Kramer: Colonel, thanks so much for being on with us. We appreciate your time. Could you paint a picture for us of what the site actually looks like today as the work continues to remove those massive pieces of metal and concrete?
Col. Estee Pinchasin: So I was just out there today, actually, and you can still see from the skyline those trusses going into the water. And unfortunately, what you can’t see is the complexity of the wreckage that’s mangled and collapsed on itself on the bottom of the riverbed. So you see a lot of cranes, a lot of barges and tugboats that are having to support the operations out there. But also you have a lot of movement of equipment heading back out to Trade Point Atlantic, where we’re securing and ensuring that the equipment will be able to get through the next few days of some inclement weather that we’re expecting.
Shawn Anderson: Now, the governor has said the hope is to have a 35-foot-deep channel open by the end of this month. With so much wreckage in the river there, as you describe, is that a reasonable timeline? Will it be removed from the bottom of the river by then?
Col. Estee Pinchasin: So, absolutely. It is not a hope — it’s a plan. We are planning to have that 35-foot-deep channel, 280 feet wide, we are planning to have that open by the end of April. Everyone should remember that that channel is normally 50-feet deep. We maintain it, the Baltimore District of the Corps of Engineers maintains that channel at a 50-foot depth to allow all that shipping traffic to come into the Port of Baltimore. So now we have to remove the wreckage from the bottom.
And while the wreckage is sitting at the bottom of the riverbed there, we are going to be able to remove what I call the span on the far side of the channel. So across from the vessel, that big span that you can see coming out of the water, that alone is 240 feet and parts of it already go deep into the mud line. So we know that as we remove that, we’re going to have portions of that 35-foot channel that are actually deeper. We’re going to have to then pick up other portions of the wreckage, which includes the road debris, and other steel that has been broken off from the bottom of the riverbed.
But what we’re saying is we’re going to get it down to a depth of 35 feet, where those vessels are going to be able to go through, and as we’re trafficking that through — controlling it with the Coast Guard — we’ll continue to deepen and deepen the channel … as we clear wreckage down until we get to 50 feet.
Anne Kramer: So, Colonel, that’s going to take a while to get to all of the wreckage that’s at the bottom of the Patapsco there. Will any of it just stay there since it’s kind of caught up in the mud and muck, or is that too dangerous?
Col. Estee Pinchasin: No, ma’am, we are not going to leave the wreckage at the bottom of the channel. We are going to take it all out, even the wreckage that’s under the mud line. We don’t want to leave that behind. Because, remember, we maintain that channel at a 50-foot depth. We bring in our dredging contractors that come in and maintain that channel for us. And we certainly don’t want them running into any left-behind steel or any left-behind wreckage debris. We are going to clear it completely out, and it might be challenging to get below the 50 feet — where the steel came under the mud line and below what we would normally maintain — but we don’t want to leave it behind so that it would emerge and be a obstruction to navigation later on.
Shawn Anderson: Colonel, before we go — the bodies of three of the construction workers who died in the collapse are still in the water. What is the biggest biggest challenge right now to get to those bodies?
Col. Estee Pinchasin: So first of all, we don’t know where they are. I can’t say how proud I am of the team. We we have implemented a plan that allows us to ensure that at every every step, every time we remove a layer of wreckage, we are looking at what we see and we’re scanning the wreckage for how it reacted. But we’re also looking for any shred of information, any chance of anything else that we need to investigate to see if any of those personnel — or any remnants, any parts of vehicles that give my give us a clue as to where they might be — we’re looking to see where they are. And as you remember, a week ago today, we actually were successful in implementing that plan.
We have the Maryland State Police divers, on call ready to go the second we notice that something is indicating that we could find a missing person. We activated that plan, they responded immediately, and we were able to recover one of the missing persons last Friday. So it’s not just a plan, it’s a proven plan. We made that happen.
We were able to return and provide closure to that one family, we’ve still got three more. And that is a part of the plan. It’s not an afterthought. And I really hope that the families out there, that every day that goes by, they know that they have the absolute best team working on this. And it’s not lip service, you should see them out there. They’re really getting after it. And we’re just so proud and honored to be a part of that recovery mission for those families.
Anne Kramer: Colonel, we certainly appreciate your time and insight on all of this, and we’re glad to talk with you.
How you can help the families of the Key Bridge collapse victims
Updated: 3:38 PM PDT Apr 2, 2024
WORKERS TO COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER. THE O’S ESTAMOS USTEDES AQUI AHORA SIEMPRE. WE ARE ALL WITH YOU. WE ARE ALL OF YOU. WE ARE ALL WITH YOU. WE ARE ALL OF YOU. RIGHT HERE, RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW AND ALWAYS. HARD HATS A CANDLE AND FLOWERS. ALL TO REMEMBER. THE SIX CONTRACTORS WHO DIED WHILE WORKING ON THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE. THEY WERE DOING ROAD REPAIRS, FILLING POTHOLES WHEN THE STRUCTURE WAS HIT BY THE CONTAINER SHIP DOLLY AND COLLAPSED INTO THE PATAPSCO RIVER. WE ARE JOINED TOGETHER TODAY FOR A SOMBER MOMENT OF HONORING THE SIX BROTHERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES DURING THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE THIS WEEK, AND THE ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHO PERFORMED THE DANGEROUS YET CRITICAL WORK OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 11 NEWS SHOWED YOU VIDEO OF THE WORK CREW TAKEN BY A DRIVER’S DASH CAM VIDEO. TWO HOURS BEFORE THE BRIDGE CAME CRASHING DOWN, TWO MEN SURVIVED DIVERS AS PART OF A RECOVERY EFFORT DID FIND THE BODIES OF TWO VICTIMS. THE FOREMAN ON THE JOB, 35 YEAR OLD ALEJANDRO HERNANDEZ FUENTES OF BALTIMORE, AND WORKER, 26 YEAR OLD JULIAN RONIEL CASTILLO CABRERA OF DUNDALK. FOUR OTHERS ARE STILL MISSING, INCLUDING MAYNARD SUSO SANDOVAL, WHO LIVED. IN OWINGS MILLS, THE MARRIED FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN, WAS ORIGINALLY FROM HONDURAS AND HAD LIVED IN THE U.S. FOR 17 YEARS. MIGUEL LUNA LIVED IN MARYLAND 19 YEARS. THE MARRIED FATHER OF THREE WAS FROM EL SALVADOR THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS TALKED ABOUT THE DANGERS THEY FACE, AND I ASKED MYSELF. WHAT WERE TO HAPPEN IF I WERE TO GET INJURED, OR EVEN WORSE. THE GATHERING IS ALSO TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRANTS WHO COME TO THE U.S. AND WORK IN DANGEROUS OR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, WITH VERY LITTLE PROTECTION. ONE DAY I HAD A FALL, FELL INTO ANOTHER ROOF, AND BEGAN PELIGRO MI TRABAJO. THIS IS A EXPERIENCE THAT PUT ME INTO GREAT DANGER. AT WORK. A BILL HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO GIVE SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND WORKERS IN NEED OF HELP. I WANT TO TELL YOU WITH ALL MY HEART THAT WE ARE WITH YOU. NOSOTROS ESTAMOS CON USTEDES. AND THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO WERE HERE SAY THAT THEY WILL NOT FORGET THE SACRIFICE MADE BY THOSE SIX MEN.
How you can help the families of the Key Bridge collapse victims
Updated: 3:38 PM PDT Apr 2, 2024
Baltimore City officials are raising money for the families of those impacted by the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.Video above: Memorial remembers 6 construction workers lost in bridge collapseThe Baltimore Civic Fund has opened a donation page to support the victims’ families and the families of the survivors.”The money raised will be distributed to the families of those impacted. While monetary support can never replace the loss of a loved one, our goal is to help ease the burden of those affected by this tragedy,” the page says.You can learn more and contribute to the fund here.Also, find more ways to give here from sister station WBAL-TV’s partners at Baltimore Magazine.
Video above: Memorial remembers 6 construction workers lost in bridge collapse
The Baltimore Civic Fund has opened a donation page to support the victims’ families and the families of the survivors.
“The money raised will be distributed to the families of those impacted. While monetary support can never replace the loss of a loved one, our goal is to help ease the burden of those affected by this tragedy,” the page says.
Also, find more ways to give here from sister station WBAL-TV’s partners at Baltimore Magazine.
JOINS US LIVE FROM DUNDALK. AND TORI, YOU SPOKE WITH THAT MAN WHO SAYS THAT HE’S STILL IN SHOCK, UNDERSTANDABLY RIGHT. KHIREE YOU CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE LARRY DESANTIS TELLING ME THAT HE’S STILL TRYING TO PROCESS EVERYTHING, KNOWING THAT HE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE TO CROSS THE KEY BRIDGE AS HE WAS COMING TO WORK IN DUNDALK EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. IF I WAS ONE MINUTE LATER, I PROBABLY WOULDN’T BE HERE NOW. STILL PROCESSING LARRY DESANTIS SAYS HE LEFT FROM HIS JOB IN PASADENA AROUND 1:18 A.M., ROUGHLY TEN MINUTES BEFORE THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSED TUESDAY MORNING TO HEAD TO A SECOND JOB AT HERMAN’S BAKERY IN DUNDALK. WHEN I WAS GETTING ON, THERE WAS A TRACTOR TRAILER, A TRACTOR TRAILER, BUT IT ONLY HAD A TRACTOR, NOT THE TRAILER PART OF IT. I GOT OUT IN FRONT OF HIM OR WHATEVER, AND WE BOTH GOT ON THE BRIDGE. LARRY SAYS HE WAS GOING AROUND 45MPH BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION. HE SAYS HE SAW CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ONCE HE GOT OVER THE TOP PART OF THE BRIDGE. THERE WAS A POLICE CAR. WHEN I WENT BY RIGHT BEFORE THE TOLL BRIDGE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THEY KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. SO HE WAS WAITING TO GET THE WORD TO STOP THE TRAFFIC. SO I GUESS I WAS LIKE THE LAST ONE THAT WENT THROUGH. AND ONCE HE GOT OFF THE BRIDGE, HE DIDN’T SEE OR HEAR THE COLLAPSE. THE ONLY REASON HE KNEW IS BECAUSE ONE OF HIS COWORKERS CALLED HIM. WHILE I’M SITTING AT THE LIGHT, THE WOMAN FROM HERE CALLED ME AND SAID, WHERE ARE YOU AT? BECAUSE SHE KNEW I WAS, YOU KNOW, SHE SAID, DID YOU GO HOME OR YOU? I SAID, NO, I JUST WENT OVER THE BRIDGE. SHE SAID, WELL, IT JUST COLLAPSED. HE SAYS HE’S STILL IN SHOCK, ESPECIALLY KNOWING SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION CREW HE PASSED ON THE BRIDGE DIED IN THE COLLAPSE. I KNOW, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND THEY STILL HAVEN’T FOUND SOME OF THEM. IT’S SAD. IT REALLY IS. AND I MEAN, THEY’RE DOING THEIR JOB AND NOW COUNTING HIS BLESSINGS, SAYING HE’S GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE. THE GUY I WORK WITH, YOU KNOW, WE LEAVE. WE LEFT AT THE SAME TIME. IF WE HAD STOPPED AND TALKED FOR A MINUTE, WHICH WE DO A LOT OF TIMES, BUT WE BOTH HAD OTHER JOBS TO GO TO, SO WE JUST LEFT. JUST CRAZY TIMING. DEFINITELY ON LARRY’S SIDE THERE. HE TELLS ME HE’S BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS ALL WEEK BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW THAT HE USED THAT BRIDGE ALMOST DAILY TO GET TO AND FROM HIS FIRST AND SECOND JOB LIVE TONIGHT FROM DUNDALK. I’
‘If it was 1 minute later, I probably wouldn’t be here’: Man among last people to cross Key Bridge
Updated: 10:05 AM PDT Apr 1, 2024
A Maryland man said he crossed the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, heading to his second job just moments before the bridge collapsed. Larry DeSantis, who works his job in Pasadena before heading to his overnight shift at Herman’s Bakery in Dundalk, told sister station 11 News that the speed limit on the bridge was reduced to 45 mph due to construction. “I left (the Green Valley Market Place) parking lot at 1:18 a.m. to go over to Herman’s, my normal thing,” DeSantis told sister station 11 News. “When I was getting on (the Key Bridge) there was a tractor-trailer, but it only had a tractor, not the trailer part of it. I got in front of it and we both got on the bridge. Once I got over the top of the bridge, there was a lot of construction going on, so I (was) cautious.”DeSantis said he noticed construction workers just as he was crossing the middle part of the bridge. “It was quite a bit of construction going on because even off the bridge they were doing quite a bit also,” he said.DeSantis believes he and the tractor-trailer following behind, may have been some of the last people to cross the Key Bridge.”There was a police car when I went by, right before I went on the toll bridge, but what I understand is they knew something was going to happen, so (police) were waiting to get word to stop traffic,” he said. “So, I guess I was, like, the last one to get through. Once I got down Peninsula Highway, I saw one speed by, and he went back the other way.”DeSantis said he did not hear the collapse and didn’t even realize it had happened until he got a call from his co-worker checking in on him.”While I’m sitting at the light, the woman here called me and said, ‘Where you at?’ because she knew. She said, ‘Did you go home?’ And, I said, ‘No, I just went over the bridge,’ and she said, ‘Well, it just collapsed.’”DeSantis said he saw the video of the collapse online and could see “where my truck was going over just as it was about to hit the bridge.” He told 11 News he’s still in shock and processing what had happened Tuesday morning. “At any given time, you never know. It’s really scary, it is. It’s sad. I mean (the construction workers were just) doing their job,” he said.
BALTIMORE —
A Maryland man said he crossed the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, heading to his second job just moments before the bridge collapsed.
Larry DeSantis, who works his job in Pasadena before heading to his overnight shift at Herman’s Bakery in Dundalk, told sister station 11 News that the speed limit on the bridge was reduced to 45 mph due to construction.
“I left (the Green Valley Market Place) parking lot at 1:18 a.m. to go over to Herman’s, my normal thing,” DeSantis told sister station 11 News. “When I was getting on (the Key Bridge) there was a tractor-trailer, but it only had a tractor, not the trailer part of it. I got in front of it and we both got on the bridge. Once I got over the top of the bridge, there was a lot of construction going on, so I (was) cautious.”
DeSantis said he noticed construction workers just as he was crossing the middle part of the bridge.
“It was quite a bit of construction going on because even off the bridge they were doing quite a bit also,” he said.
DeSantis believes he and the tractor-trailer following behind, may have been some of the last people to cross the Key Bridge.
“There was a police car when I went by, right before I went on the toll bridge, but what I understand is they knew something was going to happen, so (police) were waiting to get word to stop traffic,” he said. “So, I guess I was, like, the last one to get through. Once I got down Peninsula Highway, I saw one speed by, and he went back the other way.”
DeSantis said he did not hear the collapse and didn’t even realize it had happened until he got a call from his co-worker checking in on him.
“While I’m sitting at the light, the woman here called me and said, ‘Where you at?’ because she knew. She said, ‘Did you go home?’ And, I said, ‘No, I just went over the bridge,’ and she said, ‘Well, it just collapsed.’”
DeSantis said he saw the video of the collapse online and could see “where my truck was going over just as it was about to hit the bridge.”
He told 11 News he’s still in shock and processing what had happened Tuesday morning.
“At any given time, you never know. It’s really scary, it is. It’s sad. I mean (the construction workers were just) doing their job,” he said.
The Key Bridge Response Unified Command includes the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Maryland Department of the Environment, the Maryland Transportation Authority, the Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Marine, and the Maryland State Police.
Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.
The largest crane on the Eastern Seaboard is being transported to Baltimore so crews can begin removing the wreckage of Francis Scott Key Bridge that has halted a search for four workers still missing days after the disaster.
Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Maryland-Bridge Collapse Maryland Gov. Wes Moore speaks at a news conference at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, Md. on Friday, March 29, 2024 with officials gathered to discuss efforts to remove wreckage from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge Bridge. The Chesapeake 1000 crane is behind the gathering of officials to the right. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
AP Photo/Brian Witte
Maryland Bridge Collapse Barges with cranes float near a damaged section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse Tugboats A tugboat floats next to the container ship Dali lodged against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse Barges with cranes float near a damaged section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse A boat crosses along the Patapsco River, Wednesday, March 27, 2024, as the remnants of the Francis Scott Key Bridge are seen from Dundalk, Md. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP
Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Maryland Bridge Collapse A crane is seen near the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday, March 29, 2024 in Baltimore. A cargo ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds. (AP Photo/Steve Ruark)
AP Photo/Steve Ruark
Maryland Bridge Collapse Community members mourn in front of the Patterson Park Observatory during a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP
Maryland Bridge Collapse A woman and child join others gathered in front of the Patterson Park Observatory to participate in a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP
Maryland Bridge Collapse A woman joins others gathered in front of the Patterson Park Observatory to participate in a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP
Maryland Bridge Collapse Community members gather in front of the Patterson Park Observatory to participate in a prayer circle in honor of the victims of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The prayer circle was hosted by Redemption City Church. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP)
Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner via AP
Maryland-Bridge Collapse The Chesapeake 1000 crane, which will be used to help remove wreckage from the collapse of the Key Bridge, is docked at Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point, Md., on Friday, March 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
AP Photo/Brian Witte
Maryland Bridge Collapse Construction workers and supporters arrive for a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse Victoriano Almendares, a construction worker from Rockville, Md., originally from Honduras, speaks at a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse Construction workers and supporters hold flowers during a moment of prayer at a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse Construction workers and supporters reflect during a moment of prayer at a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse A supporter holds a flower during a vigil and press conference by CASA of Maryland, a community advocacy group, to remember the six workers killed in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and to highlight the difficult conditions faced by immigrant construction workers on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Maryland Bridge Collapse People view from Fort McHenry a container ship as it rests against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Maryland Bridge Collapse Cranes stand idle on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Baltimore, Md. A container ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
Maryland Bridge Collapse People view from Dundalk, Md., as a container ship rests against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Thursday, March 28, 2024. The ship rammed into the major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, causing it to collapse in a matter of seconds and creating a terrifying scene as several vehicles plunged into the chilly river below. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
BALTIMORE (AP) — A crane that can lift 1,000 tons, described as one of the largest on the Eastern Seaboard, appeared near the site of a collapsed highway bridge in Baltimore as crews prepared Friday to begin clearing wreckage that has stymied the search for four workers missing and presumed dead and blocked ships from entering or leaving the city’s vital port.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s collapse following a freighter collision an “economic catastrophe” and described the challenges ahead for recovering the workers’ bodies and clearing tons of debris to reopen the Port of Baltimore.
“What we’re talking about today is not just about Maryland’s economy; this is about the nation’s economy,” Moore said at a news conference, the massive crane standing in the background. “The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in this country.”
Moore went to the scene Friday and said he saw shipping containers ripped apart “like papier-mache.” The broken pieces of the bridge weigh as much as 4,000 tons, Moore said, and teams will need to cut into the steel trusses before they can be lifted from the Patapsco River.
Equipment on hand will include seven floating cranes, 10 tugboats, nine barges, eight salvage vessels and five Coast Guard boats, Moore said. Much of it is coming from the Navy.
“To go out there and see it up close, you realize just how daunting a task this is. You realize how difficult the work is ahead of us,” Moore said. “With a salvage operation this complex — and frankly with a salvation operation this unprecedented — you need to plan for every single moment.”
Water conditions have prevented divers from entering the river, Moore said. When conditions change, they will resume efforts to recover the construction workers, who were repairing potholes on the bridge when it fell early Tuesday.
“We have to bring a sense of closure to these families,” Moore said.
The Coast Guard is focused on removing what’s left of the bridge and the container ship that struck it in order to clear the port’s shipping lanes, Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said.
Teams of engineers from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Navy and the Coast Guard — along with some private-sector experts — are assessing how to “break that bridge up into the right-sized pieces that we can lift,” Gilreath said.
Maryland’s Department of Transportation is already focused on building a new bridge and is “considering innovative design, engineering and building methods so that we can quickly deliver this project,” Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said.
Adam Ortiz, the Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, said there is no indication of active releases from the ship, nor of the presence in the water of materials hazardous to human health.
Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent of the Maryland State Police, said the Federal Aviation Administration has been asked to establish a tactical flight restriction area that would begin 3 nautical miles in every direction from the center span of the bridge and extend upward to 1,500 feet.
Butler advised people to keep drones away from the area and said law enforcement is poised to act on any violations of that airspace.
The victims of the collapse were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, officials said. At least eight people initially went into the water when the ship struck the bridge column, and two of them were rescued.
Divers have recovered the bodies of two men from a pickup truck in the river, but the nature and placement of the debris has complicated efforts to find the other four workers.
“The divers can put their hands on that faceplate, and they can’t even see their hands,” said Donald Gibbons, an instructor with Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers. “So we say zero visibility. It’s very similar to locking yourself in a dark closet on a dark night and really not being able to see anything.”
One of the two whose bodies were found, Alejandro Hernández Fuentes, left Xalapa, Mexico, 15 years ago to join his mother and sister in the United States, hoping to make enough money to eventually build a house and open a business back in his native country. But the 35-year-old put down roots in Maryland, and the family decided he will be buried in the United States.
“He already had a life there; that’s why they didn’t return his body,” Wenceslao Contreras Ortiz, Hernández Fuentes’ uncle, said Friday in Xalapa. He described his nephew as a hard-working father of four who doted on his mother.
Another sister still lives in Mexico but remained in close contact with Hernández Fuentes, and she is asking authorities for help securing a humanitarian visa to travel to the U.S. and say goodbye.
“She just wants to hug him for the last time,” Contreras Ortiz said.
In Baltimore, locals made morning stops at vantage points Friday to watch for the cranes. Ronald Hawkins, 71, who could see the bridge from his home, recalled watching its construction in 1972. It opened in 1977.
“I’m going to come up here every day, because I want to see the bridge coming up out of the water,” Hawkins said. “It’s a hurtin’ thing.”
President Joe Biden’s administration has approved $60 million in immediate aid, and Biden has said the federal government will pay the full cost of rebuilding the bridge, which carried Interstate 695.
Ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore remains suspended, but the Maryland Port Administration said in a statement Friday that trucks were still being processed at marine terminals.
Federal and state officials have said the collision and collapse early Tuesday appeared to be an accident that came after the ship lost power. Investigators are still trying to determine why.
The crash caused the bridge to break and fall into the water within seconds. Authorities had just enough time to stop vehicle traffic but were unable to alert the construction crew.
The loss of a road that carried 30,000 vehicles a day and the port disruption will affect not only thousands of dockworkers and commuters, but also U.S. consumers, who are likely to feel the impact of shipping delays.
Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333, said the union was scrambling to help its roughly 2,400 members whose jobs are at risk of drying up.
“If there’s no ships, there’s no work,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can.”
___
Associated Press writers Sarah Brumfield in Washington, Kristin M. Hall in Nashville, Tennessee, Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, Alba Alemán in Xalapa, Mexico, and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, contributed to this report.
BALTIMORE — A cargo ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a terrifying collapse that could disrupt a vital shipping port for months. Six people were missing and presumed dead, and the search for them was suspended until the next day.
The ship’s crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to limit vehicle traffic on the span, Maryland’s governor said.
The ship struck one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to collapse like a toy. A section of the span came to rest on the bow of the vessel, which caught fire.
Video shows Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse after ship strike
With the ship barreling toward the bridge at “a very, very rapid speed,” authorities had just enough time to stop cars from coming over the bridge, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said.
“These people are heroes,” Moore said. “They saved lives last night.”
In the evening, Col. Roland L. Butler Jr., superintendent for Maryland State Police, announced that the search and rescue mission was transitioning to one of search and recovery. He also said the search was being put on pause and divers would return to the site at 6 a.m. Wednesday, when challenging overnight conditions are expected to improve.
Authorities announce 6 presumed dead after Baltimore bridge collapse; U.S. Coast Guard suspends active search
The six people still unaccounted for were part of a construction crew filling potholes on the bridge, said Paul Wiedefeld, the state’s transportation secretary.
Rescuers pulled two people out of the water. One person was treated at a hospital and discharged hours later.
Five submerged vehicles have also been found in the water, Baltimore City Fire Chief James Wallace told CNN.
Authorities have been able to find three passenger vehicles, a cement truck and a fifth vehicle submerged in the water using infrared and side-scan sonar technology, according to Wallace.
A container ship rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md.
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
“It looked like something out of an action movie,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said, calling it “an unthinkable tragedy.”
Given the vessel’s massive weight, it struck the bridge support with significant force, said Roberto Leon, a Virginia Tech engineering professor.
“The only way the post can resist it is by bending,” Leon said. “But it cannot absorb anywhere near the energy that this humongous ship is bringing. So it’s going to break.”
Last June, federal inspectors rated the 47-year-old bridge in fair condition. But the structure did not appear to have pier protection to withstand the crash, experts said.
Five submerged vehicles have also been found in the water.
“If a bridge pier without adequate protection is hit by a ship of this size, there is very little that the bridge could do,” Leon said.
A police dispatcher put out a call just before the collapse saying a ship had lost its steering and asked officers to stop all traffic on the bridge, according to Maryland Transportation Authority first responder radio traffic obtained from the Broadcastify.com archive.
One officer who stopped traffic radioed that he was going to drive onto the bridge to alert the construction crew. But seconds later, a frantic officer said: “The whole bridge just fell down. Start, start whoever, everybody … the whole bridge just collapsed.”
On a separate radio channel for maintenance and construction workers, someone said officers were stopping traffic because a ship had lost steering. There was no follow-up order to evacuate, and 30 seconds later the bridge fell and the channel went silent.
Impacts from the collapse
From 1960 to 2015, there were 35 major bridge collapses worldwide due to ship or barge collision, according to the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure.
The collapse is sure to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. The accident will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.
Helicopter video shows the aftermath of a Baltimore bridge collapse after being hit by a ship.
“Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire East Coast,” Maryland state Sen. Johnny Ray Salling said.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, speaking at a news conference near the site, said it was too soon to estimate how long it will take to clear the channel, which is about 50 feet (15 meters) deep.
“I do not know of a bridge that has been constructed to withstand a direct impact from a vessel of this size,” he said.
Carnival Cruise Line said Tuesday that it is temporarily moving its Baltimore operations to Norfolk, Virginia following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Carnival Legend is scheduled to return from its current voyage on Sunday, March 31. Officials said guests will return to Norfolk on Sunday and be bussed back to Baltimore.
The next seven-day Carnival Legend trip scheduled for March 31 will operate out of Norfolk.
The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m., officials say
Royal Caribbean International’s Vision of the Seas is set to return to Baltimore on April 4, however no official changes have been made.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy and collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and extend our heartfelt prayers to all those impacted. We are closely monitoring the situation, and our port logistics team is currently working on alternatives for Vision of the Seas’ ongoing and upcoming sailings,” said a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean.
‘It felt like an earthquake’
According to a Coast Guard memo obtained by ABC News, a harbor pilot and an assistant aboard the cargo ship reported the power issues that prompted multiple alarms on the bridge of the vessel and loss of propulsion.
Synergy Marine Group – which manages the ship, called the Dali – confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while in control of one or more pilots, who are local specialists who help guide vessels safely into and out of ports. The ship is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd.
Synergy said all crew members and the two pilots on board were accounted for, and there were no reports of any injuries.
The ship was moving at 8 knots, roughly 9 mph (14.8 kph), the governor said.
PHOTOS: Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after cargo ship rams into support column
A container ship rests against wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, as seen from Pasadena, Md.
AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein
Jagged remnants of the bridge could be seen jutting up from the water’s surface. The on-ramp ended abruptly where the span once began.
Donald Heinbuch, a retired chief with Baltimore’s fire department, said he was startled awake by a deep rumbling that shook his house for several seconds. “It felt like an earthquake,” he said.
He drove to the river’s edge and couldn’t believe what he saw.
Baltimore Governor Wes Moore discusses latest updates after 6 presumed dead in bridge collapse
“The ship was there, and the bridge was in the water, like it was blown up,” he said.
The bridge spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to a busy harbor, which leads to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore — the 9th largest port in the U.S. — is suspended until further notice, however, officials said the port is still open for truck transactions.
The Dali was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic. The container ship is about 985 feet (300 meters) long and about 157 feet (48 meters) wide, according to the website.
Inspectors found a problem with the Dali’s machinery in June, but a more recent examination did not identify any deficiencies, according to the shipping information system Equasis.
The most recent inspection listed for the Dali was conducted by the U.S. Coast Guard in New York in September. The “standard examination” didn’t identify any deficiencies, according to the Equasis data.
Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel.
The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.
This satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies shows the overview of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Md., on May 6, 2023.
(Maxaar Technologies via AP)
Last year, the Port of Baltimore handled a record 52.3 million tons of foreign cargo worth $80 billion, according to the state.
The head of a supply chain management company said Americans should expect shortages of goods from the effect of the collapse on ocean container shipping and East Coast trucking.
“It’s not just the port of Baltimore that’s going to be impacted,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of Flexport.
The collapse, though, is not likely to hurt worldwide trade because Baltimore is not a major port for container vessels, but its facilities are more important when it comes to goods such as farm equipment and autos, said Judah Levine, head of research for global freight booking platform Freightos.
Detours and logistics
Drivers are being told to avoid the I-695 southeast corridor and use I-95 and I-895 as alternatives.
“I-695 is being detoured southbound at exit 43 (Peninsula Expressway) and northbound at Exit 2 (Route 10),” Wiedefeld said.
ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
BALTIMORE, Md. — A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday after losing propulsion, causing a “catastrophic collapse,” sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.
A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse, sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.
“At this time, it is an active search and rescue mission,” said Maryland Secretary of Transportation Paul Wiedefeld. “We know there were individuals on the bridge at the time of the collapse, working on the bridge.”
At a press conference early Tuesday morning officials said two people were rescued, with one of those people said to be in very serious condition. The other person did not need medical treatment.
The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred due to ship strike.
The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue for those who remain unaccounted for as a result of the bridge collapse.
What to know about the collapse
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.”
The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”
A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.
The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for at least seven people in the water, the department said.
Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Curtis Bay and Annapolis have crews deployed to the incident for active search and rescue, according to USCG. A Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders are also en route to the incident.
Helicopter video shows the aftermath of a Baltimore bridge collapse after being hit by a ship.
“An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast is issued regarding the incident and there has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters. Mariners are urged to avoid the area,” USCG said.
“This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.
The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m., officials say
He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.
The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Ship lost propulsion, warned of collision, CISA report says
An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report said the container ship Dali “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port and warned Maryland officials of a possible collision.
The crew notified officials that they had lost control, the report said.
“The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel and an collision with the bridge was possible,” the report said. “The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”
The waterway into and out of the port has been closed and there is no other route into the port, which is the second busiest port in the mid-Atlantic.
The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.
A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.
“All crew members, including the two pilots have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries,” Synergy Marine Group said in a statement.
The company said the 22 crew members, including the pilots, were based in India.
The cause of the crash is “yet to be determined,” the statement said.
‘No indications this was an intentional act,’ Mayorkas says
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said “there are no indications this was an intentional act,” adding, “we are assessing the impacts to the Port of Baltimore.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of the missing and injured,” he said.
Detours and logistics
Drivers are being told to avoid the I-695 southeast corridor and use I-95 and I-895 as alternatives.
“I-695 is being detoured southbound at exit 43 (Peninsula Expressway) and northbound at Exit 2 (Route 10),” Wiedefeld said.
MDOT, USCG give update on Baltimore bridge collapse
Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice, however, officials said the port is still open for truck transactions.
The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.
It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Last year, more than 12 million cars traversed over the bridge, according to ABC News.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Governor declares state of emergency
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.
“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.
White House ‘closely monitoring’ bridge collapse
The White House said early Tuesday it was “closely monitoring” the situation in Baltimore, where a cargo ship struck a major bridge.
“Our hearts go out to the families of those who remain missing as a result of this horrific incident,” a White House official said.
There was no indication of “any nefarious intent,” an official said.
President Joe Biden has also been briefed on the collapse and the ongoing search and rescue efforts, according to a White House official. He will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day, the official said.
Senior White House officials have been in touch with the Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor to offer any federal assistance they need, the administration said.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg also said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.
FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.
“We are aware of the incident in Baltimore. The priority is ensuring the safety of those affected as a search and rescue operation is underway. We expect an investigation report will be submitted to IMO in due course,” the International Maritime Organization said in a statement.
In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
BALTIMORE, Md. — A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing it to collapse, sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.
What to know about the collapse
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.”
The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”
A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.
The 948-foot container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.
The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink.
Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for at least seven people in the water, the department said.
Response boat crews from Coast Guard Stations Curtis Bay and Annapolis have crews deployed to the incident for active search and rescue, according to USCG. A Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders are also en route to the incident.
“An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast is issued regarding the incident and there has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters. Mariners are urged to avoid the area,” USCG said.
The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.
A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.
It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
Aerial view of Baltimore bridge collapse
He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.
The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.
“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” MDTA officials said in a statement at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. “Traffic is being detoured.”
Governor declares state of emergency
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.
“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.
FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.
“We are aware of the incident in Baltimore. The priority is ensuring the safety of those affected as a search and rescue operation is underway. We expect an investigation report will be submitted to IMO in due course,” the International Maritime Organization said in a statement.
In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
BALTIMORE, Md. — A container ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing it to collapse, sending vehicles and people into the water, officials in Maryland said.
What to know about the collapse
“I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge,” the Baltimore Police Department said in a statement. Officials have since said the bridge has “fully collapsed.”
The Maryland Transportation Authority said the collapse occurred “due to ship strike.”
A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.
The container ship Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, struck the bridge at about 1:30 a.m., according to a ship-tracking company.
The vessel appears to have hit one of the supports of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the roadway to break apart in several places and plunge into the water, according to a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The ship caught fire and appeared to sink.
Multiple vehicles plunged from the bridge at the time of the collapse, the Baltimore City Fire Department said. Divers were searching for least seven people in the water, the department said.
The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, opened in 1977 and crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore’s harbor. It is a vital artery, that along with the Port of Baltimore, is a hub for shipping on the East Coast.
A ship struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday, causing a partial collapse and sending vehicles and people into the water, officials said.
It is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“This is a dire emergency,” Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, told The Associated Press. “Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people.”
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge.
Emergency responders were searching for at least seven people believed to be in the water, Cartwright said, though he said it’s too early to know how many people were affected. He called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.”
He said agencies received 911 calls around 1:30 a.m. reporting that a ship leaving Baltimore had struck a column on the bridge. Several vehicles were on the bridge at the time, including one the size of a tractor-trailer truck.
The temperature in the river was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) in the early hours of Tuesday, according to a buoy that collects data for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
From a vantage point near the entrance to the bridge, jagged remnants of its steel frame were visible protruding from the water, with the on-ramp ending abruptly where the span once began.
Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. posted that emergency personnel were responding and rescue efforts were underway.
“All lanes closed both directions for incident on I-695 Key Bridge,” MDTA officials said in a statement at about 2 a.m. on Tuesday. “Traffic is being detoured.”
Governor declares state of emergency
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency following the collapse.
“We are working with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration,” Moore said in a statement.
Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said he has spoken to Maryland’s governor and Baltimore’s mayor, offering USDOT support.
FBI Baltimore personnel are also at the scene to assist.
In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this story.
