After nearly three months of repairs and preparations, the cargo ship Dali embarked on its journey from Baltimore to Virginia on Monday. The ship’s departure comes after a tragic incident on March 26, when it lost power and collided with a supporting column of the Francis Scott Key bridge, leading to the bridge’s collapse.
The 984-foot Dali set sail with the assistance of four tugboats, commencing its voyage to Norfolk, Virginia, where the remaining containers on board will be removed, and additional repairs will be undertaken. The journey to Norfolk is estimated to take between 16 and 20 hours.
The ship’s departure marks a significant milestone following the devastating events in March, which resulted in the loss of six construction workers’ lives. The incident also caused substantial disruption to the operations of the Port of Baltimore and had widespread economic implications for longshoremen, truckers, and small business owners.
On May 20, the Dali was successfully refloated and guided back to port after being stuck amidst the wreckage for almost two months. A National Transportation Safety Board investigation revealed that the ship experienced two power outages before the collision, with another power failure occurring just before the bridge collapsed. The NTSB is continuing its investigation to determine the exact cause of these electrical failures.
Recently, an agreement was reached, allowing members of the Dali’s crew to return home after being stranded in the U.S. since the crash. While the crew members are permitted to leave, they are required to remain available for depositions as part of the ongoing investigation.
The reopening of the port and the restoration of normal traffic capacity are top priorities for local and state officials to mitigate the economic impact of the bridge collapse on the region’s workforce and businesses.
Sources By Agencies
