The cargo ship Dali experienced two blackouts while moored in the Port of Baltimore a day before its collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The ship’s crew switched to a different transformer and set of breakers after the blackouts, which may have impacted the ship’s operations during the accident voyage. The NTSB is still investigating the electrical configuration following the blackouts.
The NTSB released a preliminary report detailing the events leading up to the collision, which caused the bridge to collapse, killing six construction workers. The report found that the ship was just three ships’ lengths from the bridge when it experienced catastrophic electrical failures. The emergency generator activated but was not configured to power the ship, leading to the collision.
During a congressional hearing, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy described the ship as “essentially drifting” before crashing into the bridge. Efforts are being made to replicate the electrical problems that occurred on the day of the collision. The NTSB is still investigating the incident, and a final report with probable cause findings could take up to two years to complete. Plans are underway to refloat the ship and remove it from the port, with estimates for a replacement bridge to be open in 2028 at a cost of $1.7 to $1.9 billion.
