Indian crew of Dali ship will stay on board till investigation is finished in Baltimore bridge collapse

Baltimore bridge collapse: According to a representative for the ship's owner, the Dali crew is supporting the Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board investigators on board.
 By Navhind Express News Desk Updated: Apr 2, 2024, 11:26 IST
The crew consisting of Indian and Sri Lankan nationals aboard the container vessel Dali, which collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore causing its collapse, will remain onboard until the investigation into the incident is completed. The vessel, with a crew of 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan, is currently engaged in regular duties while the investigation unfolds. The cargo ship, measuring 984 feet, was en route to Colombo when it struck the bridge spanning the Patapsco river on March 26. Prior to the collision, there was a complete blackout on the ship, indicating a loss of engine and electrical power. A spokesperson for Grace Ocean Pte and Synergy Marine, the owners and managers of the vessel respectively, confirmed the presence of 21 crew members onboard. These crew members are assisting both the National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard investigators alongside performing their regular duties on the ship. The duration of the investigation remains uncertain, and until its conclusion, the crew will continue to stay aboard the vessel. Reports from the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center affirm the crew's well-being. The Indian embassy in Washington has been coordinating closely with the crew and local authorities. US authorities initiated questioning of the Dali crew last week, gathering pertinent documents and evidence. While one crew member sustained minor injuries and received treatment, tragically, six members of a construction crew working on bridge repairs are presumed dead. Divers have recovered two bodies from a submerged red pickup truck, with efforts ongoing to locate the remaining victims. President Joe Biden acknowledged the alert raised by the Dali crew about losing control, which enabled transportation authorities to close the Baltimore bridge prior to the collision, a move he emphasized undoubtedly saved lives.

The crew consisting of Indian and Sri Lankan nationals aboard the container vessel Dali, which collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore causing its collapse, will remain onboard until the investigation into the incident is completed. The vessel, with a crew of 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan, is currently engaged in regular duties while the investigation unfolds.

The cargo ship, measuring 984 feet, was en route to Colombo when it struck the bridge spanning the Patapsco river on March 26. Prior to the collision, there was a complete blackout on the ship, indicating a loss of engine and electrical power.

A spokesperson for Grace Ocean Pte and Synergy Marine, the owners and managers of the vessel respectively, confirmed the presence of 21 crew members onboard. These crew members are assisting both the National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard investigators alongside performing their regular duties on the ship.

The duration of the investigation remains uncertain, and until its conclusion, the crew will continue to stay aboard the vessel. Reports from the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center affirm the crew's well-being.

The Indian embassy in Washington has been coordinating closely with the crew and local authorities. US authorities initiated questioning of the Dali crew last week, gathering pertinent documents and evidence.

While one crew member sustained minor injuries and received treatment, tragically, six members of a construction crew working on bridge repairs are presumed dead. Divers have recovered two bodies from a submerged red pickup truck, with efforts ongoing to locate the remaining victims.

President Joe Biden acknowledged the alert raised by the Dali crew about losing control, which enabled transportation authorities to close the Baltimore bridge prior to the collision, a move he emphasized undoubtedly saved lives.

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