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Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse

Coordinates: 39°13′1″N 76°31′42″W / 39.21694°N 76.52833°W / 39.21694; -76.52833
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Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse
Image of the bridge mid-collapse
Dali in the Port of Rotterdam in 2017
DateMarch 26, 2024 (2024-03-26)
Time01:28 (EDT)
LocationBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Coordinates39°13′1″N 76°31′42″W / 39.21694°N 76.52833°W / 39.21694; -76.52833
TypeBridge collapse
CauseSupport pillar struck by ship
Non-fatal injuriesAt least 1[1]
Missing6[2]
Property damage
  • Collapse of bridge spans
  • Fire and collision-related damage to Dali

On March 26, 2024, at 01:28 EDT (05:28 UTC), the main spans of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, United States collapsed after the container ship Dali struck one of its support pillars.[3][4][5][6][7]

Baltimore City Fire Department officials said that at least seven vehicles fell into the water.[8] Two people were recovered from the river; one declined medical treatment while the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition. At least six people are believed missing.[2]

Background

Main articles: Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore) and MV Dali
The bridge before the collision (seen in 2015), looking upstream. Dali hit the fourth pillar from left.[9]

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, originally the Outer Harbor Crossing, was a steel arch-shaped continuous-through-truss bridge. It opened in 1977 and spanned the Patapsco River, a vital shipping route in the Port of Baltimore,[10] which is one of the busiest in the United States and handled $80 billion worth of cargo in 2023.[11] It was also part of Interstate 695, a beltway around Baltimore.[10] The bridge was 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long and carried four lanes, two in each direction,[1] carrying an average of more than 11 million vehicles a year, equivalent to around 31,000 vehicles a day.[11]

Dali is a nine-year-old container ship with a length of 980 feet (300 m) and a 157-foot (48 m) beam and a 40 ft (12.2 m) draught.[12] In 2016, it struck its berth in the Port of Antwerp and required repair, although there were no injuries.[13] Registered in Singapore and owned by a Greek shipping company,[14] Dali had previously traveled from Panama to the U.S., arriving in New York on March 19, 2024, before arriving in Baltimore on March 23.[15] As of March 26 it was being chartered by Maersk.[15]

The water under the bridge was estimated to be 50 feet (15 m) deep, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported a water temperature of 47 °F (8 °C) at the time of the collapse.[10]

Collapse

Dali left the Port of Baltimore at 00:44 EDT on March 26, 2024,[16] bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka.[17] Shortly afterwards, the vessel, which had two pilots embarked,[10] reportedly notified the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of the vessel and a collision with the bridge was possible, citing a loss of propulsion.[18] A mayday was issued, which allowed traffic crossing the bridge to be halted.[19][20][21] The ship's lights were seen to be flickering just prior to the collision.[9] At 01:28, the ship struck a support column of the bridge. The bridge strike and partial collapse were recorded on video.[22]

The bridge broke apart in several places,[23] leaving sections of it protruding from the water and the roadway's approaches cut off where the spans began. A Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) spokesperson said vehicles were on the bridge at the time it collapsed, including one that was the "size of a tractor-trailer". Dali caught fire,[10] and a section of the bridge came to rest on the tip of its bow,[1] rendering it stationary.[24]

Aftermath

Emergency teams began receiving 911 calls at 01:30.[1] A Maryland Transportation Authority representative on scene told rescuers that at least 20 workers were repairing potholes on the bridge at the time of the collapse. Large-scale rescue and recovery efforts were initiated.[22] The Baltimore Police Department was alerted to the collapse at 01:35. Mayor of Baltimore Brandon Scott said that emergency personnel were on scene[25] and that he was en route to the site.[26] U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg released a statement on social media saying that he was in contact with Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Mayor Scott to offer the department's support and advised drivers to follow detour routes.[27] Moore subsequently declared a state of emergency due to the disaster.[1]

The US Coast Guard deployed boats and a helicopter as part of rescue efforts.[1] Rescue divers were also dispatched to search for people who fell in the river.[28] Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said at a 6:30 a.m. press conference that at least two people were rescued from the river, one of whom was in a "very serious" condition, while another person was said to have walked off with no injuries.[29] At least seven people were reported missing.[1][30] Wallace also said that sonar had detected submerged vehicles in the river, adding that emergency services were also using drones and infrared technology in search efforts.[31]

Synergy Marine Group, which operates Dali, said that the ship's crew, including its two pilots, had been accounted for and did not sustain any injuries, adding that there was no pollution following the incident.[32] Maersk, which chartered the vessel, saw its shares decline by about 2 percent when trading opened at Nasdaq Copenhagen on 26 March.[10] Paul Wiedefeld, the secretary of transportation for Maryland, said that there were contractors undertaking concrete deck repair on the bridge at the time of the collapse.[33] He also ordered the suspension of all shipping to and from the Port of Baltimore[34] until further notice, although land facilities were to remain open to trucking.[10] Roads leading into Baltimore were closed.[35]

At 08:09, the Federal Aviation Administration announced the establishment of a temporary flight restriction around the area of the bridge collapse effective from 08:15, also applying to drones.[36] The Federal Bureau of Investigation was also deployed to the scene, although Wiedefeld said that terrorism was not suspected in the incident. President Joe Biden was also briefed on the disaster.[10]

At around 10:55, Wallace confirmed that five vehicles on the river bed had been marked using infrared and side-scan sonar technology.[37]

At 11:28, it was reported that Maersk made a statement that it is dropping all server to Baltimore for the forseeable future, citing the bridge damage and debris creating unsafe passage to the Helen Delich Bentley port of Baltimore.[38]

Structural aspects

It is generally impossible for a bridge support to withstand the direct impact of a large ship, and this is what directly brought down the spans supported by the impacted pillar.[39] Furthermore, as a continuous truss bridge that relies on its overall structure to maintain integrity, when the south and central span collapsed, the northern component (the third span) soon followed.[22] Each failure sequence took seconds, and within thirty seconds the entirety of the central span was in the river.[40]

Local impact

Vehicle traffic was able to cross the river via the Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor tunnels, although vehicles carrying hazardous loads are not permitted.[9] The collapse blocked maritime access to the Port of Baltimore and trapped several vessels inside the harbor.[9]

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board announced that an official investigation had been launched[41] and that it was sending a team to the site.[42]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Rescuers are searching for multiple people in the water after Baltimore bridge collapse, report says". CNN. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Baltimore Key Bridge: Rescuers searching river after Baltimore bridge collapse". BBC News. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024. (14:15 UTC) Six people are unaccounted for, officials tell reporters. This is down from a previous report of seven.
  3. ^ Alonso, Melissa; Wolfe, Elizabeth (March 26, 2024). "Rescuers are searching for at least 7 people in the water after Baltimore bridge collapse, official says". CNN. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "Part of Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after being hit by large ship; cars in water". CBS News. March 26, 2024. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Yoon, John (March 26, 2024). "Cargo Ship Hits Key Bridge in Baltimore, Triggering Partial Collapse". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  6. ^ "Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after being struck by ship". The Washington Post. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Suliman, Adela; Well, Martin; Moyer, Justin Wm.; Tan, Rebecca (March 26, 2024). "What we know so far about Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  8. ^ Wells, Ciara (March 26, 2024). "Part of Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after large boat collision, vehicles submerged". WTOP. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse: What we know about ship and bridge". BBC News. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Skene, Lea (March 26, 2024). "Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses after ship struck it, sending vehicles into water". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Major US bridge collapses as cargo ship plows into pylon". France 24. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "DALI, Container Ship - Details and current position - IMO 9697428 - VesselFinder". www.vesselfinder.com.
  13. ^ "VIDEO: Mega container ship Dali Allided with berth at Port of Antwerp". www.vesselfinder.com. Vessel Finder. July 14, 2016. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  14. ^ "DALI, Container ship, IMO 9697428". Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Moses, Claire; Gross, Jenny (March 26, 2024). "The Dali was just starting a 27-day voyage". Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "Baltimore Key Bridge: Rescuers searching river after Baltimore bridge collapse". BBC News. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  17. ^ Kassam, Ashifa (March 26, 2024). "Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: vehicles fall into water after being hit by ship". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  18. ^ "What we know about Baltimore Key Bridge collapse as seven people still missing". The Independent. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Ship's crew warned of power issues before it collided with a Baltimore bridge, governor says; 6 remain missing CNN
  20. ^ Cargo ship issued mayday before hitting Baltimore's bridge, enabling authorities to limit traffic Boston Herald
  21. ^ Live Updates: 6 People Are Missing in Baltimore Bridge Collapse The New York Times
  22. ^ a b c "LIVE: Rescuers search for missing after ship destroys Baltimore bridge". BBC News. March 26, 2024. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "Baltimore bridge collapses after cargo ship collision". France 24. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "Baltimore Key Bridge collapse, in pictures". BBC. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  25. ^ Smith, Patrick (March 26, 2024). "Major bridge in Maryland collapses after being hit by a ship". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  26. ^ Regan, Helen (March 26, 2024). "Baltimore bridge collapses after ship collision". CNN News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  27. ^ Buttigieg, Pete [@SecretaryPete] (March 26, 2024). "I've spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT's support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response" (Tweet). Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Shalvey, Kevin (March 26, 2024). "Ship strikes Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge causing partial collapse, Maryland officials say". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  29. ^ Ng, Greg (March 26, 2024). "'Key Bridge is gone': Ship strike destroys bridge, state of emergency declared". WBAL. Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  30. ^ Loh, Matthew; Syme, Pete; Friel, Mikhaila; Jankowicz, Mia. "What we know about the container ship that crashed into the Baltimore bridge". Business Insider. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "Live updates: Baltimore Key bridge collapses after ship collision". CNN. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  32. ^ "'DALI', Francis Scott Key Bridge Incident". Synergy Marine Group. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  33. ^ Ebrahimji, Alisha; Regan, Helen; Magramo, Kathleen; Radford, Antoinette Radford (March 26, 2024). "Baltimore Key Bridge collapses after ship collision: Live updates". CNN. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  34. ^ "Containership Hits Baltimore Bridge Causing Collapse and Casualties". The Maritime Executive.
  35. ^ Cai, Weiyi; Chang, Agnes; Leatherby, Lauren (March 26, 2024). "How the Key Bridge Collapsed in Baltimore: Maps and Photos". The New York Times. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  36. ^ "4/1803 NOTAM Details". tfr.faa.gov. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  37. ^ "Live updates: Baltimore Key bridge collapses after ship collision". CNN. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  38. ^ "Live updates: Baltimore Key bridge collapses after ship collision". CNN. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  39. ^ "Major Baltimore bridge collapses after being hit by ship". BBC News. March 26, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  40. ^ Cai, Weiyi; Chang, Agnes; Leatherby, Lauren (March 26, 2024). "How the Key Bridge Collapsed in Baltimore: Maps and Photos". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  41. ^ https://twitter.com/NTSB_Newsroom/status/1772615395846848689?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
  42. ^ "Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse live updates: Ship hits major Baltimore bridge with construction crew on it". NBC News. March 26, 2024.
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