Loose wire tied to ship crash, bridge fall

The loss of electrical power from a loose wire caused a huge cargo ship to lose propulsion and steering before crashing into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge last year, causing it to collapse and kill six construction workers, National Transportation Safety Board officials said Tuesday.

- BRIAN WITTE AND JOSH FUNK

THE CARGO ship Dali after it struck the Baltimore bridge in 2024. Six construction workers were killed.

(Maryland National Guard)

The board approved the findings and a set of recommendations to prevent similar tragedies during a hearing in Washington. Investigators managed to identify one loose wire out of thousands on the container ship called the Dali. The label on the wire slid down too close to the end and prevented it from being fully inserted into the terminal.

The board also found the crew didn't have enough time to recover propulsion and avoid collision because the Dali was so close to the bridge when it lost power.

"The crew's actions were as timely as they could be, and they were appropriate and also impressive considering the circumstance," board member Michael Graham said.

Stronger safety systems needed

Graham also said the maritime shipping industry needs to strengthen its safety systems and better manage risks to be more in line with the rigorous approach taken in aviation.

"Many of these issues we have discussed today as part of this accident could have been identified, addressed and either mitigated or eliminated," Graham said.

The Dali was leaving Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka when it crashed into a supporting column of the bridge at about 1:30 a.m. on March 26, 2024, causing the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River.

Six men on a road crew, who were filling potholes during an overnight shift, fell to their deaths. The collapse snarled commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore for months.