Baltimore bridge collapse: Preliminary report reveals multiple blackouts in troubled ship leading to accident
Baltimore bridge collapse
Before the tragic collision that brought down Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, the cargo ship Dali encountered electrical blackouts, setting off a chain of events that culminated in disaster. As per the preliminary report released by federal safety investigators, the ship experienced two electrical blackouts on March 25, followed by two more on the day of the collision, March 26.
The timeline of events came to light in the report released by National Transportation Safety Board about the collision that killed six construction workers.
While preparing to depart from the Port of Baltimore on March 25, the Dali encountered two power outages. The first blackout was attributed to a crew member's error, while the second was due to "insufficient fuel pressure".
The ship departed for its journey to Sri Lanka on March 26. As it navigated away from the dock, the Dali suffered two more unexpected electrical failures that caused critical equipment to malfunction.
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Everything was in "working order" when the ship departed. However, about half a mile from the Key Bridge, the ship lost power, including to vital pumps.
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The cause mentioned in the report cites the reason for the power lose to be a failure of the two electrical breakers that feed the ship’s equipment. It tripped “unexpectedly,” as per the report.
After a while, the crew was able to get back the ship's power.
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Even after calls for tugboat assistance and dropping anchor, the Dali was unable to avert disaster. A second blackout struck the Dali ship, the NTSB said.
Just after midnight, the ship collided with the Key Bridge at a speed of 6.5 knots and collapsed.
NTSB investigators are investigating into the ship's electrical systems and crew actions to determine the precise cause of the failures.
Meanwhile, a separate criminal investigation by the FBI is scrutinising whether the crew was aware of the ship's serious system problems prior to departure.
Bridge protection system
The bridge was was equipped with protective measures intended to safeguard against collisions. Among these were four concrete pier-protection barriers, referred to as dolphins, each with a diameter of 25 feet. A 17-foot-long rubber fenders were installed around these dolphins to provide further cushioning.
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Despite this, the Dali managed to bypass these defences with ease.
The incident has prompted discussions on bridge protection systems and the broader maritime infrastructure's resilience.The collapsed bridge was cleared through a controlled blast May 13, allowing shipping to resume along the busy sea route.
(With inputs from agencies)