In a shocking update seven weeks after a cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, it has been revealed that the ship’s crew members are still trapped onboard. The incident occurred in the early hours of March 26, causing the 2,632 meter-long bridge to collapse into the water below and claiming the lives of six construction workers.
The tragedy shook the city to its core, as the bridge had been a vital connection between Baltimore and Dundalk. Completed in 1977 after five years of construction, the Key Bridge had become a prominent landmark. Today, most of its remnants rest at the bottom of Maryland’s Patapsco River.
Despite the passage of nearly two months, the crew of The Dali, the ship involved in the collision, continues to remain onboard. The 21 men, comprised of 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan, are thousands of miles away from their homes, uncertain about when they will be freed from the stranded vessel.
The ship was en route from Baltimore to Sri Lanka when tragedy struck, causing The Dali to lose power and crash into one of the bridge’s pillars. Part of the bridge collapsed onto the ship, but controlled explosions were conducted by the US Army Corps of Engineers on May 13 to remove debris and eventually re-float the vessel.
While there may be plans to move the ship in the near future, unfortunately, the crew will not be able to leave. Visa restrictions, a lack of required shore passes, and ongoing investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FBI have prevented their release, according to BBC News. In fact, the FBI has confiscated the crew members’ phones as part of their ongoing investigation.
Joshua Messick, executive director of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center, expressed concern for the trapped crew members, emphasizing the challenges they face without access to their personal devices. He described the situation as “sad,” explaining that they cannot engage in online banking, pay their bills, or contact their loved ones. They feel isolated and cut off from the world, including being unable to see photos of their children before going to sleep.
However, Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine Group, stated that the crew members were provided with new cell phones to use. The reason behind the seizure of their original devices remains unknown. Equally uncertain is the timeline for when these 21 individuals will finally be able to leave the ship.
This unfortunate turn of events highlights the struggles faced by the ship’s crew members, who have been trapped for weeks without the ability to easily communicate with their families or the outside world. The efforts to resolve the situation continue, and hopefully, a resolution will be reached soon.
