The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore partially collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a large cargo ship, prompting a large emergency response.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, said at an afternoon news conference the agency will lead the investigation, but that she would not provide information on fatalities or injuries from the incident, leaving that to local authorities.
Asked the priority beyond the search-and-rescue operation being conducted by the Coast Guard, she said, “Right now it’s about people. It’s about families and addressing the needs of those that were impacted, that’s the focus.”
The ship’s crew remained on the Dali, which needed to be assessed for damage before rescuers could board it, said James Wallace, chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department. The vessel was carrying cargo for the major shipping company Maersk and was headed for Sri Lanka.
A senior U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly told USA TODAY the ship apparently lost power a few minutes before striking the bridge.
A federal report has confirmed that version of events, saying the crew lost its ability to control the vessel.
The Dali lost propulsion leaving port and its crew lost control of the ship, prompting the crew to alert Maryland officials of a possible collision, an unclassified Department of Homeland Security report revealed Tuesday.
An official who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed to USA TODAY that the DHS cybersecurity agency is working with federal, state and local officials “to understand the potential impacts of this morning’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”
This was not the Dali’s first harsh encounter with a pier, and that time its leadership was determined to be at fault. It’s too early to know what caused Tuesday’s accident.
The cargo ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge collided with a shipping dock in Belgium in 2016. That incident occurred as the Dali was leaving port in Antwerp and hit a loading pier made of stone, causing damage to the ship’s stern, according to the VesselFinder.com website, which tracks ships across the world.
An investigation determined a mistake made by the ship’s master and pilot was to blame.
No one was injured in that crash, although the ship required repair and a full inspection before being returned to service. The pier – or berth – was also seriously damaged and had to be closed.
