Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Ship To Refloat Nearly 8 Weeks After Crash, Crew Forced To Stay Onboard Due To Expired Visas
Nearly eight weeks after the container ship Dali lost power and crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, the ship was finally escorted back to port early Monday.
The ship was refloated during high-tide during morning hours guided by at least four tugboats, per the Associated Press. Baltimore's skyline lost a long-standing landmark and symbol of the city's history.
Per the news outlet, thousands of tons of steel was brought up to the water's surface in addition to the bodies of six victims, all of which were Latino immigrants who came to the U.S for job opportunities.
The men were reportedly filling potholes on an overnight shift when the cargo ship, sailing under a Singapore flag, crashed into the structure.
The crew released anchors and removed over 1 million gallons of water which was used to keep the ship in place. Dive teams were able to confirm clearance after a controlled demolition to the remaining parts of the bridge freed the Dali's bow on May 13.
21 crew members are still aboard the ship, mostly Indian and Sri Lankan men, sitting tight for weeks while investigators analyzed the collision.
Now that the Dali has docked at Seagirt Marine Terminal, the men still aren't allowed off the vessel with officials confirming their expired visas have added complications to the process. A spokesperson for Synergy, Darrell Wilson, claims officials are working to secure shore leave for all men currently aboard.
"Ultimately, we want to get them home to see their families," Wilson said, stating that the timeline remains unclear at this time.
A preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board details that the Dali Ship lost electrical power multiple times before leaving the port of Baltimore and crashing into the bridge.
Since the the crash — which claimed six lives — the FBI has launched a criminal investigation, in addition to NTSB's investigation into the incident, as Baltimore City has announced a lawsuit against the owners and managers of the cargo ship, citing negligence.
