Rebuilding Bridges: The Dali's Journey and Its Rippling Impact

The cargo ship Dali, which crashed and caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge, has headed to Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs. The incident killed six workers and impacted thousands of jobs. Investigations into the electrical failures and a criminal probe by the FBI are ongoing.

The cargo ship Dali departed Baltimore for Virginia on Monday, nearly three months after it lost power and collided with a supporting column of the Francis Scott Key bridge, leading to its collapse.

The 984-foot vessel, escorted by four tugboats, set off shortly before 8:30 AM and is en route to Norfolk, Virginia, to remove the remaining containers and undergo further repairs. The journey is anticipated to take 16 to 20 hours.

In an incident that occurred on March 26, the Dali, with 21 crew members aboard, lost power and propulsion shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore, crashing into the bridge's supporting column and resulting in the deaths of six construction workers. Most of the crew members are Indian nationals.

After being stuck amid wreckage for two months, the Dali was refloated on May 20 and taken back to port. A massive steel truss had been draped over its damaged bow.

The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation revealed the ship experienced two power outages prior to its departure and another just before the crash. The cause of these electrical failures remains under investigation.

The FBI has also initiated a criminal inquiry. Meanwhile, a federal judge recently permitted the Dali's crew members to return home, with the condition that they be available for depositions, ending their extended stay in the US.

The bridge collapse has negatively impacted thousands of longshoremen, truckers, and small business owners. Local and state officials are focusing efforts on reopening the port to restore normal traffic and alleviate economic repercussions. The bridge rebuild is targeted for completion by 2028.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)