A recent examination of the tragedy in which the cargo ship MV Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore revealed unexpected discoveries.
According to J
ennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the NTSB, the ship MV Dali was transporting huge volumes of hazardous commodities, primarily corrosives, flammables, and class 9 hazardous items, including lithium-ion batteries, in 56 containers weighing around 764 tons.
On March 26, 2024, the MV Dali Cargo Ship, carrying 22 Indian crew members, collided with the bridge after losing power and becoming uncontrollable. Six people died in the collision, and four remains remain missing and assumed dead.
The NTSB has begun an investigation into the tragedy, which Homendy said may take up to two years. Homendy further stated that the Francis Scott Key Bridge lacked redundancy, which meant that if one of its members fell, the entire bridge or a piece of it would collapse. Bridges built today feature some level of structural redundancy.
According to a Department of Homeland Security assessment, photos captured by underwater drones show a high concentration of metal bits and trash, making it dangerous for divers to enter the waters. Three US Navy cranes have arrived in Baltimore to clear the submerged segments of the bridge, with another arriving next week.
According to the US Navy, the Navy’s Biggest Crane, Chesapeake, can lift 1000 tons, Oyster Bay can lift 150 tons, and Ferrell can hoist 200 tons.
The bridge will be disassembled and removed section by section, with the sections transported via barges. According to the statement, 12 more cranes and support vessels, including tugs, diving and crew boats, will arrive in Baltimore in the coming weeks.
The Maryland Governor stated that the freight is nearly the size of the Eiffel Tower, with the Key Bridge on top and shipping containers torn like paper mache.