Baltimore bridge collapse: What to know about cargo ship’s safety inspections

Cargo ship safety inspections before Key Bridge collapse

Dali lost steering capability before it hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge
A 2023 investigation found propulsion, auxiliary machinery deficiency
The vessel was involved in a collision at a Belgian port in 2016

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 / 01:02 PM CDT

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – MARCH 26: In an aerial view, cargo ship Dali is seen after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. Rescuers are searching for at least seven people, authorities say, while two others have been pulled from the Patapsco River. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

(NewsNation) — The cargo ship that lost power and rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday had a deficiency related to “propulsion and auxiliary machinery.”

An inspection of the ship, known as Dali, conducted on June 27 at the port of San Antonio found the deficiency concerned gauges and thermometer, according to a database maintained by Electronic Quality Shipping Information System, Equasis, reviewed by NewsNation. Dali has had 27 inspections since 2015, according to the database.

Dali was involved in an accident in the port of Antwerp, Belgium, where it hit a quay on July 11, 2016 as it tried to exit the North Sea container terminal, according to Antwerp port authorities.

A 2016 inspection conducted in Antwerp found it has a structural issue, which was stated as “hull damage impairing its seaworthiness,” according to Equasis.

“As a general rule, these accidents are investigated and ships are only allowed to leave after experts have determined it is safe for them to do so,” a spokesperson for the Antwerp port told Reuters.

A spokesperson for Dali’s owner, Grace Ocean Investment, declined to comment on the deficiency reported last year.

Dali, managed by Synergy Marine Corp and chartered by Maersk, lost its steering capability before it hit the pillar of the Key Bridge around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. It caused the span of the 47-year-old bridge, a major link in the region’s transport networks, to plunge into the Patapsco River. The loss of the bridge is expected to snarl commuter traffic and disrupt a vital shipping port.

It’s not clear what caused the ship to crash, but Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the ship’s crew was notified of a power loss on the vessel before the crash. The ship’s crew also issued a mayday that allowed officials to clear the bridge of cars and save many lives, Moore said.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating what happened. Investigators have boarded Dali and recovered its data recorder, Reuters reported.