Visitors 10
Modified 1-May-24
Created 1-May-24
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In the early morning hours of March 26, 2024 a major catastrophe was beginning to unfold in the Port of Baltimore which would result in the death of six workers and cause millions of dollars in damages and losses.
Around 0030 hours a 948 foot long container ship “DALI” left the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore on its way to Colombo, Sri Lanka loaded up with containers. On its way out of the port, heading towards the Chesapeake Bay it started having problems losing power and propulsion. The pilot of the ship notified the MDOT that they had lost control of the ship and a collision with the Key Bridge was possible. At this point MDOT Police hurriedly closed roadway traffic on both ends of the bridge which undoubtedly saved many lives that would have been on the bridge at the time of the collision.
Within minutes of the mayday call the “DALI” struck the main support of the 47-year-old Francis Scott Key Bridge and immediately brought the whole 1.6 mile span of the bridge down on top of the ship and into the water below. At the time there was a road crew of eight workers on the bridge repairing potholes on the road surface. Most of them were in their vehicles on a break when the ship hit. When the bridge collapsed all of them plunged into channel of the Patapsco River below.
The incident was technically within the City limits and around 1040 hours after numerous calls reporting it Rescue Box 57-I 695 was dispatched bringing first responders with all available Marine Rescue and Special Operations units to the scene. Anne Arundel, Baltimore County , and the Coast Guard also were alerted and responded with rescue boats as well as divers to the scene. When boats began arriving on the scene they began searching for any survivors. Within the first hour two of the workers were found alive and brought into shore and were transported to local hospitals. One was admitted with minor injuries and the other refused treatment. At this point there were six other workers unaccounted for and missing.
When daylight broke all available State and Federal agents assembled at Fort Smallwood Park where they set up their command post and assembly point. The Baltimore City Fire Department would lead the search and rescue operations for the next 48 hours. Around noon on the next day the first vehicle was located about 25 feet under water with two victims inside. At this point the FBI and Maryland State Police took over the recovery operations and established a Unified Command. The Fire Department wound up their operations and would leave everything to the FBI and the State. The recovery of the remaining four victims would be a slow methodical operation with safety of the recovery personnel as the main priority.
For the next few weeks an intense and costly salvage and recovery operation was underway to clear the main channel as well as establish other temporary channels to resume shipping operations in and out of the Port of Baltimore.
Salvage companies from all over the east coast reported with specialized equipment to the area and have been working day and night cutting up the downed bridge and removing the twisted steel pieces out of the way. Their original goal was to have everything removed including the ship and reopen the main channel by the end of May.
The last victim was recovered on May 7th and all of the missing workers have now been accounted for.
Around 0030 hours a 948 foot long container ship “DALI” left the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore on its way to Colombo, Sri Lanka loaded up with containers. On its way out of the port, heading towards the Chesapeake Bay it started having problems losing power and propulsion. The pilot of the ship notified the MDOT that they had lost control of the ship and a collision with the Key Bridge was possible. At this point MDOT Police hurriedly closed roadway traffic on both ends of the bridge which undoubtedly saved many lives that would have been on the bridge at the time of the collision.
Within minutes of the mayday call the “DALI” struck the main support of the 47-year-old Francis Scott Key Bridge and immediately brought the whole 1.6 mile span of the bridge down on top of the ship and into the water below. At the time there was a road crew of eight workers on the bridge repairing potholes on the road surface. Most of them were in their vehicles on a break when the ship hit. When the bridge collapsed all of them plunged into channel of the Patapsco River below.
The incident was technically within the City limits and around 1040 hours after numerous calls reporting it Rescue Box 57-I 695 was dispatched bringing first responders with all available Marine Rescue and Special Operations units to the scene. Anne Arundel, Baltimore County , and the Coast Guard also were alerted and responded with rescue boats as well as divers to the scene. When boats began arriving on the scene they began searching for any survivors. Within the first hour two of the workers were found alive and brought into shore and were transported to local hospitals. One was admitted with minor injuries and the other refused treatment. At this point there were six other workers unaccounted for and missing.
When daylight broke all available State and Federal agents assembled at Fort Smallwood Park where they set up their command post and assembly point. The Baltimore City Fire Department would lead the search and rescue operations for the next 48 hours. Around noon on the next day the first vehicle was located about 25 feet under water with two victims inside. At this point the FBI and Maryland State Police took over the recovery operations and established a Unified Command. The Fire Department wound up their operations and would leave everything to the FBI and the State. The recovery of the remaining four victims would be a slow methodical operation with safety of the recovery personnel as the main priority.
For the next few weeks an intense and costly salvage and recovery operation was underway to clear the main channel as well as establish other temporary channels to resume shipping operations in and out of the Port of Baltimore.
Salvage companies from all over the east coast reported with specialized equipment to the area and have been working day and night cutting up the downed bridge and removing the twisted steel pieces out of the way. Their original goal was to have everything removed including the ship and reopen the main channel by the end of May.
The last victim was recovered on May 7th and all of the missing workers have now been accounted for.
© Howard Meile III