BALTIMORE, MD—A federal investigation into the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge has concluded that a massive cargo ship’s electrical failure, combined with the state’s failure to safeguard the aging structure, led to the disaster that killed six workers nearly a year ago.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report this week (PDF), pinpointing the probable cause of the March 26, 2024, collapse as the containership Dali losing power and veering into a critical bridge support pier. The 947-foot vessel, loaded with cargo, experienced multiple blackouts starting at 1:24 a.m. EDT, leaving it unable to steer away from the bridge. At 1:29 a.m., it struck Pier 17, causing the 47-year-old span to crumble into the Patapsco River within seconds.

The NTSB found that an improperly secured electrical breaker triggered the initial power loss, a failure compounded by the ship’s inability to regain propulsion. Despite last-ditch efforts by the crew to restore power and drop the anchor, the Dali—weighing 158,000 gross tons—could not avoid the collision.

The report also faulted the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) for not assessing the bridge’s vulnerability to vessel strikes, despite federal guidelines urging such evaluations. Built in 1977, the Francis Scott Key Bridge lacked modern protective features like fenders or dolphins to deflect large ships. The NTSB calculated its risk of collapse was 27.6 times higher than acceptable standards, a danger MDTA never addressed through updated engineering studies or a risk management program.

“The collapse could have been prevented if the state had acted on known risks,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said in a statement. “This tragedy underscores the need to protect our infrastructure as maritime traffic evolves.”

The disaster halted traffic at the Port of Baltimore for months, disrupting a key East Coast shipping hub. Six construction workers repairing potholes on the bridge perished, while two others survived. The Dali’s crew, mostly Indian nationals, escaped unharmed, though the ship remained pinned under debris for weeks.
The NTSB issued safety recommendations, calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to tighten vessel electrical system standards and urging MDTA and other bridge operators nationwide to evaluate and reinforce vulnerable crossings. Maryland officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The report caps a nearly yearlong probe into one of the deadliest U.S. bridge failures in decades, renewing debates over infrastructure safety as larger ships increasingly ply American waterways. Legal battles over liability and cleanup costs, estimated at over $1 billion, are ongoing.

Photo: An aerial image of the Unified Command response operations in Baltimore, Maryland on April 22, 2024. The Key Bridge Response Unified Command priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, accountability of missing persons, safely restoring transportation infrastructure and commerce, protecting the environment, and supporting the investigation. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Alejandro Rivera)

Please follow and like us: