“Singapore-Flagged Ship Collides with US Bridge; MPA Assists in Investigation Efforts “

SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) announced on Tuesday (March 26) that it is assisting US authorities with the investigation into a collision involving the Singapore-flagged vessel Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. The MPA has offered support to the United States Coast Guard (USGC), National Transportation Safety Board, and other agencies, with investigators from Singapore en route to Maryland.

The incident took place at approximately 1:27 am Baltimore time when the 300-meter container ship, chartered by Maersk, struck a bridge pillar, causing vehicles to fall into the Patapsco River below. The Dali, managed by Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, had experienced a brief loss of propulsion just before the accident, rendering it unable to maintain course. The ship’s emergency procedure led the crew to deploy anchors in an attempt to slow down before impact.

The MPA confirmed that all 22 crew members are safe and accounted for, and the vessel remains stable at the collision site. Local reports indicate that two Maryland pilots, rather than the ship’s crew, were guiding the vessel at the time. Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld confirmed that an alert from the ship allowed traffic to be halted on both sides of the bridge, a move that President Joseph Biden commended for saving lives.

Unfortunately, eight workers were on the bridge, with two rescued and six still missing. The workers were repairing potholes as part of a construction project. Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath of the US Coast Guard expressed that there is little hope for additional survivors, and by Wednesday morning, authorities suspended the search for the missing workers.