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(BALTIMORE – April 2, 2024) – On March 26, 2024, at 1:28 a.m. EDT, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Baltimore metropolitan area collapsed after being struck by the container ship Dali, causing significant damage. Two people were rescued from the river, with one critically injured. Six maintenance crew members working on the bridge are missing, with four presumed dead. The incident blocked shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore, affecting over 8,000 jobs and resulting in estimated daily losses of $15 million.

The bridge, a steel arch-shaped continuous truss bridge, was the second-longest in the United States, spanning the Patapsco River, a crucial shipping route. MV Dali, a container ship, collided with the bridge’s pier after suffering a blackout and losing control. Despite efforts to stop traffic, the collision caused the bridge to break apart, with sections collapsing into the river.

MV Dali, operated by Synergy Marine Group and owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, had passed recent inspections. However, the bridge lacked modern collision protection systems. The collision occurred as the ship was departing the Port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka.

Emergency response teams immediately launched rescue and recovery efforts, deploying divers and helicopters to search for survivors. The collapse prompted a significant disruption to shipping and economic activity in the region.

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