Pinned
The six construction workers unaccounted for after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge are presumed dead, according to a Coast Guard official.
Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said that due to the amount of time since the collapse and the water temperatures "we do not believe that we are going to find any of these individuals still alive."
The Coast Guard is also suspending its search and rescue operation, he said.
Clay Diamond of the American Pilots Association, a trade association, said the pilot at the helm of the container ship Dali attempted to slow it down prior to its early morning collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Mr. Diamond said he had gleaned the information through his contacts at the Association of Maryland Pilots.
Mr. Diamond related that such pilots assume “navigational control” of foreign-flagged ships before entering local waterways. Synergy Marine, the operator of the ship, has said two local pilots were in control of the ship at the time of the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has opened an investigation into the ship crash that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 26.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy announced the investigation from Baltimore some 13 hours after the incident occurred at 1:28 a.m. ET.
The 24-member investigation team began to collect information today, including data on the vessel’s operations, safety history, safety record, and operator.
The bridge collapse in the port of Baltimore has the potential to create a domino effect in the U.S. auto industry, resulting in inventory shortages and price increases.
According to Michel Leonard, chief economist and data scientist at the Insurance Information Institute, the car sector will see a disruption similar to that seen during the pandemic, albeit on a smaller scale.
According to his prediction, there will be a period when prices for new cars will go up, although the increase is not expected to be significant.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a reflection of the commercial vessel that bumped into it, not the condition of the bridge itself, the founding director of the University of Southern California Transportation Engineering Program, James Moore, told The Epoch Times.
The boat experienced a loss of power as it headed toward the bridge. The crew issued a mayday call, causing officials to stop motorists from getting onto the bridge, thereby saving lives.
The bridge was in acceptable condition, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA).
Some 12 hours after a ship strike sent the center spans of the 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge tumbling into Baltimore’s Patapsco River, state and federal leaders warned that rebuilding the critical motorway will be a long process.
“This is no ordinary bridge. This is one of the cathedrals of American infrastructure,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters in Baltimore on the afternoon of March 26. “It has been part of the skyline for this region for longer than many of us have been alive.”
Mr. Buttigieg thanked first responders and offered condolences to those “who woke up today to the news that no one wants to receive.”
The Francis Scott Key, I-695 bridge was the safety route for commercial vehicles carrying explosive materials, and recreational vehicles carrying propane, which are prohibited in tunnel crossings.
These drivers should plan to use I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) between Essex and Glen Burnie. This will add significant driving time, the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) State Highway Administration advises.
Drivers without tunnel restrictions should use I-95 (Fort McHenry Tunnel) or I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) for north/south routes.
A patient who had been treated at the R Adams Crowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore following the partial collapse of a bridge that was rammed by a cargo ship has been released, a hospital spokesperson told The Epoch Times.
No further information was available from the hospital.
Early on March 26, rescuers had pulled two survivors from the water following the collapse of the center sections of the Francis Scott Key Bridge spanning the Patapsco River. The collapse occurred after a supporting pillar of the bridge was rammed by a 984-foot vessel carrying more than 4,000 shipping containers.
The U.S. Embassy in Singapore has been in touch with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, which has offered to give assistance to the U.S. Coast Guard in the aftermath of the bridge collapse in Baltimore, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in response to a question from The Epoch Times.
The commercial vessel that crashed into the bridge, causing it to collapse, had a Singaporean flag.
Mr. Miller said the State Department is not aware of any U.S. contacts with Sri Lanka, where the boat was headed.
A massive cargo ship lost power and struck a major bridge in Baltimore in the early hours of March 26, causing it to collapse and hurtling as many as 12 vehicles and 20 people into the frigid water.
Six construction workers, who were repairing potholes on the bridge at the time of the crash, are presumed dead, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has ended its search and rescue mission.
At least two survivors have been rescued. One refused medical treatment and the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
As the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore still rests in the Patapsco River after being struck by a container ship on the morning of March 26 and suffering a catastrophic collapse, curiosity continues to build as to what caused the incident.
Experts tell The Epoch Times that although the steel-arched bridge was nearly 50 years old, it would have likely collapsed whether it was new or old because the ship took out the main support columns.
Maryland officials said Tuesday morning that the bridge was fully up to code and was not on any of the state’s lists for bridges in poor condition at the time of the incident, which was caught on video and shared widely across all media platforms.
President Joe Biden said the federal government would fund the bridge reconstruction costs.
“It's my intention that the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect Congress to support my effort,” he said in a speech from the White House.
“It's gonna take some time and people of Baltimore can count on us to stick with them at every step of the way.”
The bridge was rammed and knocked down by a 95,000-ton, three-football field-long moving behemoth carrying up to 9,900 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of container cargo—with each TEU weighing up to 28 tons.
Early reports indicate the 948-foot Singaporean-flagged container carrier Dali changed course and may have lost power after pulling out of Seagirt Martine Terminal near Point Breeze around 12:45 a.m. before ramming the bridge around 1:30 a.m.
Shipping giant Maersk has temporarily suspended cargo shipping into the Port of Baltimore and rerouted ship traffic currently en route to that destination.
The move came 12 hours after the DANSI, a 984-foot container ship carrying Maersk cargo struck Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge resulting in a partial collapse of the structure.
The Department of Transportation Port Administration has temporarily halted shipping to and from the port.
A tugboat operator on the water woke Robert Newberry with a call in the middle of the night.
“He said, ‘Man, you won't believe what just happened! This ship just hit the Key Bridge and it's in the water.’
“He was probably bringing a barge under the bridge and passing, about 10 minutes away, or coming into port,” Mr. Newberry told The Epoch Times.
President Joe Biden issued a statement about the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore for the first time.
The White House announced that the president will also deliver remarks about the tragic incident at 12:30 p.m.
“This morning, I convened senior members of my team for a briefing on the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge,” Mr. Biden said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Baltimore’s National Football League (NFL) and Major League Baseball (MLB) teams reacted to the collapse of the bridge.
“Our hearts go out to those who have been affected by the horrific Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse early this morning,” said the Baltimore Ravens in a statement.
“We are grateful for the first responders and local leaders who are on scene to lead the search and rescue efforts and to support those families who have been most directly impacted,” continued the NFL team.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott issued an executive order, declaring a local state of emergency for 30 days.
In addition to Democrat Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, other members of Maryland’s congressional delegation reacted to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Maryland.
“The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse is an unthinkable horror. We are all trying to respond accordingly. I've spoken directly with Secretary Buttigieg and the White House. They are responding with all of the assets at their disposal,” posted Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), whose district consists of almost all of Baltimore, on X, previously Twitter.
“Special thanks to the first responders on the scene and praying for everyone affected. To all travelers in the area, follow local travel guidance and stay safe,” posted Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) on X.
A container ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, collapsing large sections of the 1.6-mile structure and hurtling as many as 12 vehicles and 20 people into the frigid waters of the lower Patapsco River at 1:28 a.m. on March 26.
At least two survivors were rescued. One refused medical treatment and the other was transported to a hospital in critical condition.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency.
The major bridge collapse at the port of Baltimore could lead to a ripple effect in the shipping industry and potentially make a dent in the broader economy.
The port has become one of the most significant trade hubs in the U.S. today, with 12 private and 5 state-owned public marine terminals.
Maersk is a Danish shipping and logistics company that chartered
Maersk, the company that chartered the container vessel ”DALI”. The vessel is owned by the Singapore-based Grace Ocean and operated by Synergy Group, a ship manager company with a base in Singapore.
Add to that the companies that hired Maersk to transport goods in shipping containers stacked on its deck.
Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice. This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is shut down. The Department of Transportation Port Administration says it is still processing trucks inside its terminals.
In addition to cargo ships, Baltimore is a popular port for large cruise ships and the industry is watching.
Cruise ship activity at the Port of Baltimore, based on 2024 published itineraries, includes 12 ships making a total of 115 ship calls during calendar year 2024. It is the 29th largest cruise port in the United States with 378,000 passenger movements scheduled through the port. Any adjustments to current cruise activity at the port will be announced as soon as available by the individual cruise lines.
A mayday call from the commercial vessel may have saved lives, according to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
The call prompted officials to slow traffic to the bridge he said.
"These people are heroes,” he said. “They saved lives last night.”
A Baltimore man was awakened by a family member who heard what he initially thought was a bomb explosion at around 1:30 a.m. on March 26. The sound was the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spans the lower Patapsco River and outer Baltimore Harbor, carrying traffic along Interstate 695 in Baltimore.
Two sections of the 1.6-mile bridge crumpled into the river along with approximately seven vehicles and as many as 20 people after being struck by a container ship, DALI.
The man, identifying himself as Chris, who had traveled the route daily as a commuter speculated that traffic could be disrupted for years as the bridge is rebuilt.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said that the Department of Transportation will allocate emergency funding to repair the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Mr. Van Hollen said that acting National Highway Transportation Administration Administrator Sophie Shulman is on her way to Baltimore.
He said that she and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg “will be releasing those early funds once all the parties are fully engaged.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore offered heartfelt thoughts in the aftermath of the bridge tragedy.
He said Maryland will “come back stronger” and to “pray for Baltimore."
Mr. Moore also thanked first responders and offered words of hope to the people of Maryland.
Hours after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) issued a statement about the tragedy.
“Awful, horrific news in Baltimore this AM. I’m praying for those who were on the bridge & thankful for emergency crews responding to this disaster,” he posted on X, previously Twitter, at 8:26 a.m. ET – about four hours later than Maryland’s other Democrat senator, Ben Cardin, posted his reactions to the incident.
In a full statement, Mr. Van Hollen said that he is “heading to Baltimore now and am closely monitoring the situation” and keeping in touch with leading officials including Gov. Wes Moore.
Rescuers pulled two survivors from the Patapsco River after portions of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed at 1:28 a.m.
The bridge was struck by the container ship DALI, which had been chartered by the shipping company Maersk. “We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected," Maersk told The Epoch Times
At least seven vehicles cascaded into the water, according to Baltimore officials.
President Joe Biden “has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and the ongoing search and rescue efforts,” according to the White House.
The president, continued the White House, “will continue to receive updates from his team throughout the day.”
The president, along with Vice President Harris, is scheduled to head to North Carolina to campaign as the Tar Heel State will be a crucial state in the election.
The container ship DALI is owned by a Singapore-based group, Grace Ocean Pte Ltd, which is in turn owned by a group based in Hong Kong and was carrying cargo on behalf of the Danish shipping company Maersk.
Synergy Marine, which operates the ship, reported that it was under the control of two local pilots when it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge at 1:28 a.m. However, the ship "lost propulsion" as it was leaving port, and the crew notified Maryland officials they were no longer in control of the vessel according to an ABC News report, which cited an unclassified U.S. intelligence report.
Synergy Marine reported that the 22 crew members aboard, all Indian, and two local pilots were accounted for with no injuries.
The U.S. Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast urging mariners to avoid the area. There has been a 2000-yard safety zone issued for the surrounding waters.
The Coast Guard has sent the Air Station Atlantic City MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew and Coast Guard investigators and pollution responders to the incident.
This is not the first time the Singaporean-flagged Dali, owned by Grace Ocean Investment, has had an incident.
In 2016, the container ship, now nine years old, hit a wall at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium as it was doing “unmooring maneuvers for leaving the port … in good weather and was caused by mistake of the master and pilot on board” as the cargo ship “had substantial stern momentum, which caused allision with the stone wall of the quay.”
The Francis Scott Key Bridge—named after the person behind America’s national anthem—was built in 1977.
Its 47th anniversary was just three days ago. It was built in Baltimore over the Patapsco River.
On average, 31,000 cars drove on the bridge daily, or 11.3 million annually.
The lights on the container ship that rammed the bridge support, causing it to collapse, appeared to go out approximately 67 seconds before the vessel made contact with the bridge, a livestream of Baltimore Harbor shows.
A spray of water or debris is visible as the ship reaches the point where four supporting pillars from the bridge meet the water. The two bridge sections to the right and left of the pillar collapse immediately, striking the bow of the ship and cascading what appear to be three or four emergency vehicles into the water. A further section to the right collapses as well, leaving a second supporting pillar in place.
The collapse took about five seconds.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, calling into CNN, said that the media should stop showing video of the bridge collapse.
“I'm going to be the first to ask that CNN and everyone else stop showing the video,” he said. “No one needs to see a possibility of their family members and severely injured otherwise over and over and over again because it's just traumatizing our community.”
All of those on the shipping vessel are safe, said Mr. Scott.
The primary mission following the collapse of the bridge is searching for and rescuing people, said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld.
There are no fatalities that have been confirmed and the FBI is investigating if the collapse was an act of terrorism. Mr. Wiedefeld said he believes that there is no terrorism connection. Nonetheless, it is “an open investigation,” he said.
There were workers on the bridge doing concrete and duct repairs at the time of the crash, according to Mr. Wiedefeld.
Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said the bridge collapse was not an act of terrorism nor an intentional act.
Nonetheless, he told reporters, “There are people in the water we need to get out.”
Rescuers pulled to people out of the water. One refused medical care and the other is in critical condition and was transferred to a hospital.
Emergency personnel was on the scene of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore, Maryland, on Tuesday morning follow a catastrophic strike by a cargo ship.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning, involved a Singapore-flagged container ship named the Dali.
"I can confirm at 1:35 a.m., Baltimore City police were notified of a partial bridge collapse, with workers possibly in the water, at the Francis Scott Key Bridge," Detective Niki Fennoy told The Epoch Times. "At this time, I have no further information available."
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