Share this @internewscast.com

“Hold all traffic on the Key Bridge,” an unidentified first responder said over emergency radio transmissions posted online by Broadcastify, a website that streams and records radio communications. “There’s a ship approaching that just lost their steering.”

At that point, the Dali was drifting, powerless, toward the bridge at a speed of about 8 knots. Maritime experts said there was most likely little the crew could have done to avert catastrophe.

“An engine conking out 3 miles out in the ocean is an aggravation and an economic problem, because you lose time,” said Henry Lipian, a retired Coast Guard lieutenant and founder of the Introtech accident reconstruction firm. “In a narrow channel at night, with a bridge in front of you, I couldn’t think of a worse situation to deal with.”

A ship can drop anchor in an attempt to avert a collision, but given the Dali’s size, speed and distance from the bridge, such a move most likely wouldn’t have helped, said Morgan McManus, an instructor at SUNY Maritime College in New York who has worked on cargo ships and tankers.

“At 8 knots you need a couple thousand yards to do it,” McManus said.

Investigators are now working to piece together what happened. Lipian said he suspected that fuel or an issue with the fuel system might have been the culprit. 

“While in port, did they take on a load of fuel?” he said. “Was it the proper grade of fuel? Was it contaminated?”

The ship had data recorders on board, but they have yet to be analyzed, officials said.

“We chose not to board the vessel today to allow some time for the search and recovery, which we did not want to interfere with,” said Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation and Safety Board.

She described the recorder as a “critical piece of our investigation.”

An inspection of the Dali in Chile in June noted “deficiencies” in “propulsion and auxiliary machinery,” including gauges and thermometers, according to data on the website Equasis, which publishes safety-related information about ships. But the Dali had subsequent inspections, including one in September in New York, in which no deficiencies were noted.

Experts cautioned not to read too much into the deficiencies recorded in June. They could have been a result of something minor, like paperwork issues. 

The Dali, a Singaporean-flagged vessel chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, was bound for Sri Lanka.

“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected,” Maersk said in a statement. “We are closely following the investigations.”

Synergy Marine Group, which operates and manages the ship, said that two port pilots were at the helm of the Dali at the time of the crash and that all 22 crew members on board were accounted for. Port, or bay, pilots play a crucial role in helping large ships navigate narrow waterways. They hop on ships approaching ports and hop off after they leave the harbors, using their extensive knowledge of their areas to guide vessels to safety.

“There’s very little margin of error going through some of these ship channels,” said Mercogliano, the maritime expert, who is an adjunct professor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and a history professor at Campbell University in North Carolina.

Mercogliano said a local tugboat operator who heard the mayday call told him a pilot issued it. 

“What the pilot did was what they were supposed to do,” Mercogliano said.

Containerships’ colliding with bridges is rare but not unheard of. Last month, a cargo vessel struck a bridge outside the city of Guangzhou, China, causing a section of the roadway to come crashing down, killing five people. 

The deadliest such collision in the U.S. occurred in 1980, when a cargo ship rammed into the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay, Florida, bringing it down and killing 35.

Dramatic video captured the moment the Key Bridge tumbled into the water at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday.

The boat’s lights, after having gone out at 1:24 a.m., went back on one minute later, and dark smoke began billowing from the ship’s chimney. Then, at 1:26 a.m., the ship appeared to turn sharply. Before it slammed into the bridge, the Dali’s lights flicked off and on again. 

Local residents said they were shocked by the sight of the gaping hole above the bay where the bridge had stood for nearly a half-century. 

“It’s literally at the end of the street; you see it coming home every day,” said William Reynolds, of Dundalk. “And now it’s just not there.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
DOJ prepares to send election monitors to California following requests from state GOPs

DOJ to Deploy Election Monitors in California at GOP’s Request

The Department of Justice is set to deploy federal election observers in…
Officials release new details weeks after blast at Tennessee explosives plant kills 16

New Details Unveiled in Tragic Tennessee Explosives Plant Blast That Claimed 16 Lives

In the wake of a devastating explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems, officials…
Ontario premier says he'll pull ad that upset Trump so trade talks between Canada and US can resume

Ontario Premier Withdraws Controversial Ad to Reopen Canada-US Trade Dialogues

TORONTO (AP) — The Premier of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, announced…
Serbian foreign minister proposes hosting Ukraine-Russia peace negotiations amid ongoing conflict

Serbia Offers Neutral Ground for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks: A Diplomatic Step Towards Resolution

EXCLUSIVE: Marko Djuric, the Foreign Minister of Serbia, revealed to Fox News…
Trump speaks at tele-rally to boost GOP's chances in governor's race in New Jersey

Trump Rallies Virtually: Energizing GOP Voters for New Jersey Governor’s Race Victory

In a spirited appeal to his supporters in New Jersey, former President…
ICE in Chicago: Judge rules detainment of Ruben Torres Maldonado, father of teen with cancer unlawful, orders prompt bond hearing

Chicago Court Declares ICE Detainment of Cancer Patient’s Father Unlawful, Orders Immediate Bond Hearing

In a significant development on Friday, a federal judge issued a new…
Family matriarch dies day after rescue from remote island that saw family swim ashore to escape boat fire

Tragic Turn: Family Matriarch Passes Away After Dramatic Rescue from Remote Island Following Boat Fire

A day after being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard, a woman…
'Brazen' Louvre thieves made targeted heist, treasures could be melted down: expert

Inside the Heist: A Cinematic Jewel Theft Unfolds in Paris

Every now and then, journalists come across stories so extraordinary that even…
Officials investigating after deadly crane collapse in commercial area north of Boston

Tragic Crane Collapse Under Investigation in Boston’s Northern Suburbs

Tragedy struck just north of Boston on Friday, as a crane collapse…
Study links TikTok use to Gen Z women’s attraction to criminals

New Study Reveals Surprising Connection Between TikTok Use and Gen Z Women’s Interest in ‘Bad Boys

Gen Z Women Are Swooning Over These Men! A recent study reveals…
Michael Wolff Sues Melania Trump, Plans to Question Her

Michael Wolff Initiates Legal Action Against Melania Trump, Seeks to Question Her

Michael Wolff, the controversial author famous for his insider accounts of the…
Universities defiant on Trump's academic excellence compact as feedback deadline passes

Universities Stand Firm Against Trump’s Academic Excellence Compact as Feedback Deadline Expires

In a notable response to the Trump administration’s proposed Compact for Academic…