Baltimore Key bridge collapse: Cargo ship issued mayday

BALTIMORE (AP) — A container ship lost power and hit a Baltimore bridge early Tuesday, causing it to break apart and plunge into the river. Several vehicles fell into the icy water and rescuers searched for survivors.

Maryland’s governor said the vessel’s operator sent a distress call shortly before the incident on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, allowing authorities to restrict vehicle traffic on the bridge.

The ship hit one of the bridge’s supports, causing the structure to crack like a toy. It fell into the water within seconds – a shocking sight captured on video and posted on social media. The boat was on fire, with thick black smoke billowing from it.

The accident, which occurred long before the busy morning commute, was described by one official as “a mass casualty event in progress.” Two people were rescued, but officials said six people were still missing. All are believed to have been working on the bridge when it collapsed.

“You never think you’re going to see, see with your own eyes, the Key Bridge collapse like that. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said it looked like something out of an action movie, calling it ” An unimaginable tragedy.”

Authorities said an unspecified crew was working on the bridge when it collapsed and sonar detected cars in the water, which was about 50 feet (15 meters) deep. The water temperature was about 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) before dawn Tuesday, according to buoy Data collection for NOAA.

Earlier, Baltimore Fire Department communications director Kevin Cartwright told The Associated Press that several vehicles were on the bridge when it collapsed, including one the size of a tractor-trailer. The bridge collapsed in the middle of the night when there was less traffic than during the day when thousands of cars crossed the bridge.

Cartwright called the collapse a “mass casualty event in progress,” although he did not know at the time how many people were affected.

Synergy Marine Group, which manages the vessel, the Dali, confirmed that the vessel struck a pillar on the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. and that it had one or more pilots on board at the time. Local experts are responsible for assisting ships in safely entering the port. The vessel is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd.

The statement said that all crew members, including the two pilots on board, were missing and there were no reports of injuries.

As the sun rose on Tuesday, the jagged remains of the bridge jutting out of the water were illuminated. The on-ramp ends abruptly where the span once began.

Cartwright said some of the cargo appeared to be hanging from the bridge, which spans the Patapsco River at the entrance to the busy port. The river leads to the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub on the east coast. The bridge opened in 1977 and is named after the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Widfield said all vessel traffic in and out of the port will be suspended until further notice, but the facility will remain open to trucks.

Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency and said he was working to deploy federal resources. The FBI responded to the scene but said it had no reliable information suggesting terrorism. President Joe Biden was briefed.

According to maritime traffic data, the “Daly” was originally flying from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, flying the Singaporean flag. According to the website, the container ship is about 985 feet (300 meters) long and 157 feet (48 meters) wide.

Danish shipping giant Maersk said it had chartered the vessel, which carries cargo for its customers. There are no Maersk crew or personnel on board. The plunge caused Maersk’s shares to plunge 2% in early trading on Nasdaq in Copenhagen on Tuesday.

In 2001, a freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed and caught fire in a tunnel in downtown Baltimore, spewing black smoke into surrounding neighborhoods and forcing officials to temporarily close all major roads into the city.

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This story has been corrected to show that Grace Ocean Private, not Synergy Marine Group, owns the vessel.