On Tuesday morning, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed when it was struck by a container ship. According to Chief James W. Wallace of the Baltimore City Fire Department, as many as seven individuals may have fallen into the water as a result of the crash. Fortunately, two people have been rescued, with one of them being transported to a trauma center in a very serious condition.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge spans the Patapsco River, located southeast of the Baltimore metropolitan area. The collision occurred around 1:30 a.m. ET, while contractors were working on the bridge, as revealed by Paul Wiedefeld, Maryland's transportation secretary.
Wiedefeld stated that the incident is currently being treated as an active search and rescue mission. As a precautionary measure, vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice.
"This is a significant incident with a wide-reaching impact," emphasized Chief Wallace during a press briefing. Sonar scans conducted by the fire department have detected submerged vehicles, but the exact number is yet to be disclosed.
Chief Wallace also mentioned that the crew of the ship involved in the collision is still on board. However, before rescuers can board the vessel, a thorough assessment of the damage must be conducted. When asked about any possible technical problems with the ship, Chief Wallace stated that they do not have that information at the moment.
During the briefing, a spokesperson from the Baltimore police reassured the public that there is no indication of terrorism or intentional actions being involved in the incident.
The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the ship that collided with the bridge as the 948-ft DALI vessel. Matthew West from the Coast Guard confirmed that three response boats have been deployed, and pollution responders are en route from the Sector Maryland-National Capital Region. Shipping data reveals that the Singapore-flagged container vessel is managed by Synergy Marine Group. The group has reported that all 22 crew members, including two pilots, have been accounted for.
While the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation, the DALI vessel has activated its Qualified Individual Incident response service. Synergy, the vessel's owner and manager, is fully cooperating with federal and state government agencies as per the approved plan.
It has been noted that the ship was originally bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to marine traffic data. Maersk, a charter vessel company, has confirmed that they had chartered the DALI vessel. They have assured their customers that none of their crew or personnel were on board.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore has pledged full cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard's investigations.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has declared a state of emergency in response to the bridge collapse. Emergency personnel are currently present at the scene. Governor Moore stated that they are working closely with an interagency team to swiftly deploy federal resources from the Biden Administration. The governor expressed their commitment to maintaining close contact with all entities involved in the rescue efforts as they assess and respond to this tragic event.