All 22 crew members on the container ship that collided with Baltimore’s Key Bridge were Indian nationals, according to the charter management company. They are confirmed safe.
All crew, including the two pilots, have been located with no reported injuries. There’s been no pollution reported either, according to Synergy Marine Group, the charter manager. The ship, flagged in Singapore, is owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd.
Early Tuesday morning, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed when a container ship struck it, causing cars to fall into the river. Eight construction workers on the bridge also fell into the water while repairing potholes.
Cargo Ship Collision in Baltimore
The cargo ship that crashed into a big bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday morning had a crew of 22 people, all from India, according to the company. Fortunately, everyone, including the two pilots, has been found and is safe, with no injuries reported. The ship management company, Synergy Marine Group, confirmed that there’s no pollution caused by the accident.
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Bridge Collapse Incident in Detail
In the early hours of the morning, around 1:27 a.m. ET (10:57 am IST), a container ship named ‘Dali’ hit a support of the bridge while traveling down the Patapsco River towards Sri Lanka. This caused a major part of the bridge to collapse into the river.
The ship, owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and flying the flag of Singapore, was carrying a heavy load of containers, capable of holding up to 10,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). However, at the time of the accident, it had 4,679 TEU on board.
Unfortunately, the collision led to casualties among a construction crew working on the bridge. Eight people fell into the cold waters of the river, where temperatures were as low as 8°C. Two of them were rescued, one without injuries, and another in critical condition. This left six people still missing.
Two Rescued, Six Missing, Following Container Ship Accident
Currently, two people have been saved, but there’s a big area still to be searched, according to local authorities. They’re worried that six more are still missing and are actively searching. Among those rescued, one is unhurt while the other is seriously injured.
The police mentioned to Reuters that one of the rescued individuals is in a “very serious condition.”
A 948-foot container ship, Dali, collided with a section of a bridge, causing some cars to fall into the water and sparking concerns of multiple injuries. This incident happened on the Patapsco River, as the Dali was leaving Baltimore headed to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Updates and Impact on Port Operations
According to Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the container ship was moving quite fast, about eight knots, before it lost power and hit the bridge. Initial investigations suggest it was an accident, not a terror attack.
The Baltimore City Fire Department labeled the collapse as a ‘mass-casualty incident,’ and daylight aerial footage reveals the extensive damage. The bridge, spanning the Patapsco River and leading to the Port of Baltimore, is a vital route for car shipments, being the busiest port in the US.
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Cargo Ship Collision in Baltimore FAQs
Q.1. What caused the bridge collapse in Baltimore?
Ans. A container ship collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge resulted in a section collapsing into the Patapsco River.
Q.2. Were there any casualties among the crew of the container ship?
Ans. Fortunately, all 22 crew members, including two pilots, were found safe with no reported injuries.
Q.3. How many construction workers fell into the river during the incident?
Ans. Eight construction workers fell into the river, with two rescued, one uninjured, and another in critical condition, leaving six still missing.
Q.4. What is the current status of the missing construction workers?
Ans. Authorities are actively searching for the six missing construction workers while expressing concerns for their well-being.
Q.5. What impact does the incident have on port operations in Baltimore?
Ans. The bridge collapse disrupts vital transportation routes, affecting the operations of the Port of Baltimore, a key hub for car shipments in the US.
