The Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning after a container ship struck it.
According to Paul Wiedefeld, the transportation secretary for the state of Maryland, six people have not been found. It is possible that they fell into the river after the incident. Both individuals were rescued, with one being sent to a trauma facility in critical condition after being transferred there.
Located to the southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan region, the bridge is responsible for carrying Interstate 695 across the Patapsco River.
According to Wiedefeld, the massive container ship collided with the aircraft at around 1:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) while workers were repairing the bridge. It is suspected that the construction crew that was working on the bridge to repair the potholes is the group of workers who have gone missing.
Due to the event, vessel travel into and out of the Port of Baltimore has been prohibited until further notice, according to Wiedefeld, who stated that the situation is an ongoing search and rescue effort to investigate.
During a press briefing, Chief James W. Wallace of the Baltimore City Fire Department stated that “this is a very large incident, and it involves a very large footprint.”
The chief of the fire department stated that sonar scans had identified the existence of automobiles that were submerged in water. Still, he was unable to divulge the total number of vehicles that were involved.
“The most recent information that we have on the crew of the ship is that they are still on board the ship,” Wallace stated. He went on to say that rescue agents must first do a damage assessment of the vessel before they are allowed to board. In response to a question about whether or not the ship was experiencing any technical difficulties, he stated, “We do not have that information.”
The FBI and officials from the state of Maryland have stated that there is no evidence to imply that the collapse was the result of terrorist activity.
Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, stated that the early inquiry indicates that an accident occurred. No proof can be considered credible that a terrorist assault took place.
Following its completion in 1977, the bridge was given the name Francis Scott Key, whose poem served as the basis for the national song of the United States of America.
There are still six men missing: Paul Wiedefeld, secretary of transportation for Maryland, confirmed that eight individuals were present on the bridge when it collapsed. Already, at least two individuals have been rescued; one is hospitalised, and the other is in good health. The ongoing search is in pursuit of the remaining six individuals.
Sonar and drones are utilised in search operations. Officials stated that authorities are conducting a search and rescue operation with the assistance of drones and sonar and infrared technologies. They have identified vehicles submerged in water thus far. Although the Baltimore division of the FBI is present at the location, the Baltimore police superintendent stated that there were no indications that terrorism was the driving force.
The energy was lost prior to the crash. After the vessel struck one of the bridge’s pillars, the entire 1.6-mile-long, four-lane bridge collapsed into the water, as captured on video. According to CNN analysis, the vessel deviated from its intended course after its lights began to fluctuate prior to colliding with the bridge. The crew was able to issue a “mayday” signal prior to colliding with the bridge, according to Maryland Governor Wes Moore. This enabled authorities to prevent incoming traffic from accessing the bridge.
Regarding the ship: Maersk, a Danish shipping company, chartered the vessel, which was transporting the cargo of their clients, and the company confirmed this to CNN. The company stated that the vessel was devoid of any Maersk crew or personnel. It was stated that the charter vessel company Synergy Group operates the DALI.
Authorities are in search of alternative modes of transportation for the approximately 35,000 people who use the bridge on a daily basis, according to Wiedefeld. They will be instructing users to utilize the harbour tunnel and the Fort McHenry Tunnel instead.
Confirmation of the chartering vessel by Maersk
The United States Coast Guard has determined the identity of the vessel that was involved in the collision with the bridge.
“The USCG has verified that the vessel is the 948-foot DALI.” “The USCG has deployed three response vessels, and pollution responders are en route from Sector Maryland-National Capital Region,” Matthew West of the US Coast Guard told NBC News.
According to shipping data, the Singapore-flagged container vessel is reportedly under the administration of Synergy Marine Group. The organization issued a statement confirming the whereabouts of all 22 crew members, including two pilots.
“Although the precise cause of the incident remains unknown, the Qualified Individual Incident Response Service (DALI) has been activated,” the organization stated. “In accordance with an approved plan, the owners and managers are fully cooperating with federal and state government agencies and have notified the United States Coast Guard and local authorities.”
According to maritime traffic data, the vessel was en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Maersk ultimately verified the vessel’s charter.
“We hereby affirm that the container ship ‘DALI’, which is under the operation of charter vessel company Synergy Group, is time chartered by Maersk and is transporting cargo for Maersk customers,” “There were no Maersk personnel or crew on board the vessel,” the company stated.
“We shall ensure that our customers are duly informed regarding the investigations that authorities and Synergy are conducting, which we are diligently monitoring.”
In a statement, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore declared that it “will fully assist the United States Coast Guard in its investigative endeavours.”
In the state of emergency
Following the bridge’s collapse, the Maryland governor’s office reported that emergency personnel were still on the scene.
Moore stated, “I have declared a state of emergency in Maryland, and we are collaborating with an interagency team to rapidly deploy Biden Administration federal resources.”
As we continue to assess and respond to this calamity, we will maintain close communication with federal, state, and local organizations conducting rescue operations.