Baltimore bridge collapse: crew members from ship still held by US two years on

"Several crew members of a ship that collided with a bridge in Baltimore almost two years ago are still being held in the US by federal authorities despite the fact that no criminal charges have been brought against them. In the early hours of 26 March 2024, the MV Dali departed the port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka. While navigating the Fort McHenry channel, the 1,000ft-long Singapore-flagged cargo vessel lost power before striking the bridge. The impact resulted in the deaths of six people who were working on the bridge at the time."

"A report published by the US government's National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in November last year found that the Dali's crash was caused by a loss of electrical power stemming from a loose signal wire in the vessel's electrical system. According to the board, this was due to improper installation of the wire. It also said that a lack of countermeasures to reduce the bridge's vulnerability contributed to the collapse."

"The crew members are from India and Sri Lanka. These men don't know when they are going to see their families again, said one source. They're stuck here with no light at the end of the tunnel. They don't know if they'll ever be hired again. It's sad and it's scary. They're just sitting on their hands right now."

Four senior crew of the MV Dali remain detained in Baltimore as federal authorities continue an investigation despite no criminal charges being filed. The MV Dali lost electrical power while navigating the Fort McHenry channel on 26 March 2024 and struck a bridge, killing six bridge workers. The four senior crew members are from India and Sri Lanka and face prolonged separation from families and employment uncertainty. An NTSB investigation found the power loss stemmed from a loose signal wire improperly installed and identified systemic safety and configuration weaknesses and the bridge's vulnerability as contributing factors.

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