Baltimore bridge collapse due to cargo ship collision: at least six fatalities

Six workers were reported missing and presumed dead following the collapse of a bridge in Baltimore Harbor on Tuesday. The collapse occurred after a massive cargo ship collided with the structure, leading to the closure of one of the busiest ports on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. The cargo ship involved in the collision was the Singapore-flagged container vessel named Dali, which was departing Baltimore Harbor en route to Sri Lanka. The ship had reported a power failure before the collision, prompting officials to halt traffic on the bridge prior to its collapse.

The vessel struck a support pylon of the Francis Scott Key Bridge around 1:30 a.m., causing a section of the bridge to collapse into the icy waters of the Patapsco River. Two survivors, part of a work crew repairing the bridge's road surface, were rescued, while the remaining six workers were unaccounted for. As dive teams faced increasingly hazardous conditions in the dark and debris-laden waters, search-and-rescue efforts were halted approximately 18 hours after the accident, according to officials from the U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland State Police. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath stated that due to the combination of freezing water temperatures and the significant time elapsed since the incident, there was no hope of finding the missing workers alive.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore commended the actions taken to prevent further casualties, acknowledging the heroic efforts to stop traffic on the bridge. Despite the bridge's compliance with safety standards and the absence of structural issues, the mayor of Baltimore, Brandon Scott, described the aftermath as reminiscent of scenes from an action movie.

The closure of the port and the bridge's collapse are expected to have significant impacts, including potential delays and increased costs for shipping operations along the Eastern seaboard. President Joe Biden has promised rapid federal assistance for reconstruction and has committed to visiting Baltimore in the aftermath of the tragedy. As investigations into the incident continue, concerns arise regarding the vessel's history of propulsion issues and its previous involvement in maritime incidents. Thus, it underscored the need for thorough safety evaluations and regulatory measures in maritime transportation.