Bridge crash is investigated
Authorities in the US are investigating how a ship collided with a huge bridge in the city of Baltimore, causing the bridge to collapse.
What happened?
On 26 March, a 290-metre-long ship hit part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which is 1.6 miles long. The bridge immediately collapsed into the sea. Six people who were working on the bridge died. The bridge crossed the entrance to Baltimore’s port (where ships go to load and unload).
The ship, called Dali, was carrying more than 4,500 heavy shipping containers and was heading from Baltimore to Sri Lanka. Two minutes before it hit the bridge, the ship’s crew issued an emergency call to authorities to say it had lost power. The crew tried to steer away from the bridge and put down an anchor to stop the ship, but it drifted into the bridge. Just before the crash, the police stopped vehicles from driving onto the bridge, which saved several people’s lives. After the accident, rescuers rushed to the scene and saved two people by pulling them out of the water.
What is being investigated?
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which looks at the causes of transport accidents in the US, is investigating what happened. Until the work is finished, the Dali’s 21 crew members have to stay on board the ship. No date has been given for when they will be allowed off but they have lots of food and water, and more supplies can be delivered to them.
The investigation is likely to focus on two important questions: what caused the ship to lose power and should the bridge have withstood the impact better? The bridge was completed in 1977. In those days the ships that were passing under it were much smaller than today’s vessels. Bridge collapses such as this are very rare.
What happens now?
The port at Baltimore is the 14th largest in the US (see panel above). It was closed after the accident. On 1 April, a temporary route was created to allow a limited number of ships to safely pass in and out of Baltimore harbour. Work has now started to remove the remains of the bridge from the water. Highly trained teams are cutting the steel and concrete structure into smaller pieces to make it easier to remove. Cranes – including a huge one called the Chesapeake 1000, which floats – have been brought in to lift the pieces from the harbour.
What was the response?
US president Joe Biden said, “Our prayers are with everyone involved... and to the people of Baltimore, I want to say: ‘We’re with you’.” On 1 April, it was announced Biden would visit the accident site on 5 April to meet officials there.
The US Government has approved £47 million of emergency money to help clear up the damage. President Biden said his plan was for the US government to pay the entire cost of rebuilding of the bridge, a process that could take several years. However, not all US politicians agree with this.