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NTSB inspects key components of ship that struck Maryland Bridge

Posted to Maritime Reporter on June 24, 2024

The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Monday that it was inspecting electrical components removed from the cargo vessel Dali, which crashed into a Maryland Bridge in March and killed six people. It also destroyed the Patapsco River Crossing.

The NTSB reported in May that the Dali had lost power on several occasions before it crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This included a blackout while the ship was undergoing port maintenance and just before the accident.

The NTSB has confirmed that it continues to examine electrical components in its materials lab and added that investigators have finished their interviews with the crew.

The board said it would "continue to assess the design and operation the vessel's electric power distribution system and investigate all aspects" of the accident.

The Maryland Transportation Authority reported that the Bay Bridge briefly closed on Monday as the Dali traveled beneath it to Norfolk, Virginia for repairs.

The board reported that the cargo ship suffered other power outages last month, including four minutes before it crashed when electrical breakers tripped unexpectedly and caused a loss of all shipboard equipment. This occurred when the ship was only 0.6 miles (1 km) away from the bridge.

The Dali crew restored the power but another blackout took place 0.2 miles (about 320 metres) from bridge. This stopped all three steering pump. The crew could not move the rudder.

After the removal of the Dali and 50,000 tons worth of debris, the full channel access was restored two weeks ago.

Federal officials are rushing to get environmental approvals. Maryland hopes to have it completed by the end of 2028.

The FBI launched a criminal investigation into the collapse in April. Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard evaluates whether other bridges across the country are at risk following the Maryland bridge collapse.

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