Bridge in Baltimore Collapses After Cargo Ship Accident
A cargo ship’s collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge on Mar. 26 has resulted in tragedy, with six construction workers presumed dead after the bridge’s collapse. The Dali cargo vessel, measuring 300 m in length, issued a distress call moments before the crash, mentioning a loss of power. The ship collided with one of the bridge’s supports at a speed of 8 knots, roughly 15 km/h, causing the bridge span to collapse into the water within seconds.
Eight construction workers were on the bridge at the time of the crash, two of whom were rescued shortly after the collapse. Divers recovered the bodies of two others, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, according to Jeffrey Pritzker, executive vice president of Brawner Builders. The workers were engaged in repair work on the span when the incident occurred.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the Dali had undergone routine engine maintenance at the port before the power failure. According to Equasis, a shipping information system, an inspection last June in Chile identified propulsion and auxiliary machinery issues, though the website does not disclose specific details. However, a standard examination by the U.S. Coast Guard in September found no deficiencies.
Experts noted the significant force at which the vessel had struck the bridge support, given its massive weight. Roberto Leon, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech, explained that while the support post can bend to resist impact, it cannot absorb the energy of such a large ship. Federal inspectors had rated the 47-year-old bridge as being in fair condition last June. However, it lacked adequate pier protection to withstand the collision. Federal and state authorities are investigating the incident, preliminarily categorized as an accident.
This tragedy adds to a grim history of bridge collapses worldwide due to ship or barge collisions. According to a 2018 report from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, between 1960 and 2015, there were 35 bridge collapses resulting in 342 deaths. Of these incidents, 18 occurred in the United States. Notable among these tragedies was a 2002 collision in Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, where a barge struck the Interstate 40 bridge over the Arkansas River, causing vehicles to plunge into the water, resulting in 14 deaths and 11 who were injured.
As investigations into the Baltimore bridge collapse continue, attention turns toward bolstering safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Luis Apolo Staff Reporter teen/1713139050/1613367592
1. Describe what happened on Mar. 26 in detail. What did it result in?
2. What did the U.S. Coast guard report? What did Equasis identify?
3. What did the experts and federal inspects say about the vessel or the bridge?
4. What did a 2018 report reveal? What was notable among the tragedies?
1. Have you ever traveled on a ship or a submarine? Describe your experience.
2. Compare water travel to air or land travel. What are the pros and cons of each?
3. What are some fun activities to do in water? Have you done any of them?
4. What lessons can be learned from this tragedy? What actions should be taken to improve safety?
A cargo ship’s collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge on Mar. 26 has resulted in tragedy, with six construction workers presumed dead after the bridge’s collapse. The Dali cargo vessel, measuring 300 m in length, issued a distress call moments before the crash, mentioning a loss of power. The ship collided with one of the bridge’s supports at a speed of 8 knots, roughly 15 km/h, causing the bridge span to collapse into the water within seconds.
