Ship that crashed into Baltimore bridge had 'power issue:' Official
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According to the Maritime and Port Authority, the ship management company reported that the Dali vessel experienced a momentary loss of propulsion.
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A container ship rests against the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. (AP)
A Singapore-flagged ship involved in a bridge accident in Baltimore, United States, "experienced momentary loss of propulsion" soon before the incident, according to the city-state's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) on Tuesday.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, in the US, collapsed following a collision with a cargo ship.
Footage circulating on social media showed the bridge collapsing after being struck by the ship.
According to media reports, the ship collided with the bridge around 1:30 am local time before catching fire and sinking while vehicles were crossing the bridge. Local accounts indicated that a number of people ended up in the Patapsco River following the accident, with the number of casualties remaining unclear so far.
The 3 km (1.6 mile) long Key Bridge in #Baltimore, Maryland collapsed into the water overnight after a cargo ship collided with it, Fox Baltimore reported.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 26, 2024
The extent of the damage to the bridge was not immediately clear, the New York Times said, as mass casualties were… pic.twitter.com/HWihwECFrC
The statement by the authority detailed how "the ship management company, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, reported to MPA that just prior to the incident, the vessel, Dali, had experienced momentary loss of propulsion."
"As a result, it was unable to maintain the desired heading and collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge," it stated, adding that the vessel had released its anchors as part of emergency preparations before contact.
According to Maryland's governor, Wes Moore, the ship issued a Mayday call seconds before the crash.
Moore explained that the ship, going at a "rapid" eight knots (9 miles per hour), warned authorities that it had lost power, causing officials to hasten to restrict automobile traffic on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
"These people are heroes. They saved lives last night," he remarked.
Moore added that the crew had alerted authorities of a power issue. When questioned by reporters if the spacecraft had lost power before colliding with one of the columns supporting the bridge, he said, "Yes".
