Ship Manned by Indian Crews Collide against Baltimore Bridge Flinging Cars, People in River

Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The cargo ship that struck a major bridge in Baltimore in the United States causing it to snap flinging cars and at least 20 people into the river below was manned entirely by a crew of 22 Indians, the ship management company Synergy Marine Group said.

The shipping company Maersk, which had chartered the Singapore-flagged container ship, named Dali, said all crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.

The container ship “lost propulsion” as it was leaving port, and crew on board notified Maryland officials they had lost control of the vessel, media report said. “The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation that they had lost control of the vessel and a collision with the bridge was possible,” it said. The ship appeared to collide into supports of the bridge, causing it to catch fire. Several vehicles fell into the chilly waters, and rescuers were initially searching for at least seven people.

The vessel Dali, which collided with the Baltimore bridge, was also involved in a collision in 2016 in Antwerp, Belgium, according to Vessel Finder. It said the weather was fine at the time and the incident was blamed on the ship’s master and pilot on board. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued flight restrictions around the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse site. The aviation body urged citizens to not interfere with rescue operations.

Stating that the White House was “closely monitoring” the situation after the Baltimore bridge collapse, it offered consolation to the families of those who went missing since the incident of the bridge collapse. Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency, while also thanking those who are carrying out search and rescue operations.

The city Fire Chief James Wallace said there were no reports of the smell of diesel fuel from the incident area, adding that the picture would be clearer as an assessment was made in day light. Wallace also denied an angle of “terrorism” to the bridge collapse and said he had no information as to whether there was a problem with the ship.

Divers have been pressed into service as search and rescue operations gained momentum, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski said. The water at the site of the bridge collapse is about 9°C, a potentially deadly temperature as water drains body heat about four times faster than cold air and the body can sustain temperatures that cold only for a one to three-hour window. The 1.6-mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge extends over the Patapsco River into the Port of Baltimore, according to the Maryland Transport Authority (MTA).

The bridge opened in 1977 and is named after the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. It is believed that Francis Scott Key sat near the site of the bridge, where witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814 inspired him to write the US national anthem.

The ship operated by Maersk crashed into one of the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s supports, causing the structure to snap and buckle at several points and tumble into the water in a matter of seconds — a shocking spectacle that was captured on video and posted on social media.

The vessel caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.

The collapse came at night when the bridge does not have many travellers. At day time, thousands of cars traverse the span.

Some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to a busy harbor.

In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore and caught fire, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

Synergy Marine Group — which owns and manages the ship called the “Dali” — confirmed the vessel hit a pillar of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. while two pilots were in control. Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, called the collapse a “developing mass casualty event.” He added that some cargo appeared to be dangling from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to a busy harbour. The river leads to the Port of Baltimore, a major hub for shipping on the East Coast. Opened in 1977, the bridge is named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”