Classification
- Incident Type: Allision
- Severity: High
- Investigation Body: NTSB
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Dali |
| Vessel Type | Container |
| Flag State | Singapore [SG] |
| IMO Number | 9697428 |
| Approximate length | 984 ft |
| Capacity | 10,000 TEU |
| Cargo aboard | 4,679 TEU |
| Crew and pilots aboard | Contemporary sources reported 21 or 22 crew and 2 pilots |
| Owner | Grace Ocean Pte Ltd |
| Manager | Synergy Marine |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2024-03-26 |
| Location | Francis Scott Key Bridge, Patapsco River, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Region | United States |
| Coordinates | 39.2909, -76.6108 |
| Fatalities | 6 |
| Direct Damage | The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed after the impact, and bridge debris blocked the shipping channel. |
| Estimated Economic Damage | USD 4.3 billion - USD 5.2 billion projected bridge replacement cost (MDTA, 2025-11-17); total economic loss unverified. |
| Outcome | Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed; six road workers died, two others were rescued, and Baltimore port traffic was disrupted. |
Key facts
- Dali departed Baltimore shortly after midnight on a voyage to Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- Contemporary reports stated that the vessel experienced a power failure at about 01:24 EDT and struck a bridge pylon at about 01:27 EDT.
- The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed within seconds of the impact.
- Six road workers died; two others were rescued, one of whom was hospitalized in the early reports.
- The reviewed converted extracts do not establish the technical cause of the power failure or a final missing-person accounting.
Narrative
On 26 March 2024, the Singapore-flagged containership Dali departed Baltimore shortly after midnight on a voyage to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Contemporary sources variously reported 21 or 22 crew members and two pilots aboard, with 4,679 TEU of cargo loaded. Grace Ocean Pte Ltd was identified as the registered owner and Synergy Marine as the manager.
At about 01:24 EDT, contemporary reports stated that Dali experienced a power failure and lost propulsion. The pilot and crew warned authorities that the vessel was in danger of hitting the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Reports also stated that an anchor was dropped and that the pilot attempted to steer and slow the vessel, while authorities moved to stop bridge traffic.
At approximately 01:27 EDT, Dali struck a pylon of the bridge. The bridge collapsed within seconds, sending the roadway and structural debris into the Patapsco River and onto the vessel. Six road workers who had been repairing the bridge died. Two other workers were rescued shortly after the collapse; one was hospitalized in critical condition in the initial reporting. The reviewed extracts do not establish a final missing-person count or a definitive injury classification for the survivors.
The collapse blocked the shipping channel and suspended traffic through the Port of Baltimore. Contemporary reporting described the immediate port disruption and later efforts to clear the wreckage. Subsequent financial estimates and settlements are set out below; they do not establish a verified total economic loss. The NTSB preliminary report is identified as the official investigation source, but no verified final findings or technical cause are stated here. Accordingly, the reported power-loss sequence is not presented as a confirmed technical cause.
Economic impact and cost estimates
The replacement forecast, disruption estimates and settlements cover different or overlapping losses. They cannot be added into a single accident-cost total.
| Category | Amount | Scope and evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge replacement | USD 4.3 billion - USD 5.2 billion | MDTA’s revised project forecast announced on 2025-11-17, with opening anticipated in late 2030. This is projected reconstruction expenditure, not final accident loss. MDTA. |
| Daily port disruption | Approximately USD 15 million per day | Early reported estimate of lost economic activity during port closure. The underlying model and a final net-loss total are not established. Reason Foundation, 2024-04-08. |
| Insured losses | USD 2 billion - USD 4 billion | Morningstar DBRS’s March 2024 forecast, conditional on blockage duration and business-interruption coverage. This predates the revised replacement estimate and is not a final claims total. Reuters. |
| Federal response settlement | USD 101.98 million | Agreement announced on 2024-10-24 to resolve federal response-cost claims. It excludes bridge reconstruction and does not establish total salvage expenditure. U.S. Department of Justice. |
| Maryland settlement | USD 2.25 billion | Final agreement announced on 2026-05-12 with Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine. It resolves Maryland’s claims against the vessel interests, while claims against the shipbuilder remain separate. This is a recovery, not an additional cost. Maryland Attorney General. |
The Department of Justice records that the main channel was cleared by 2024-06-10 and that temporary channels restored some access earlier. Multiplying the initial daily estimate by the whole period to full reopening would assume constant disruption despite partial recovery. No reconciled total economic loss is established by these figures.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2024-03-26 shortly after midnight | Dali departed Baltimore on a voyage to Colombo. |
| 2024-03-26 01:24 EDT | Contemporary reporting stated that Dali experienced a power failure. |
| 2024-03-26 shortly after 01:24 EDT | The pilot and crew warned authorities and attempted emergency actions, including dropping an anchor. |
| 2024-03-26 01:27 EDT | Dali struck a bridge pylon and the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed within seconds. |
| 2024-03-26 | Six road workers died and two others were rescued from the water. |
| 2024-04-06 | Reuters reporting stated that three bodies had been recovered and three remained beneath the debris while search operations continued. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of power before impact | Reported | Contemporary reports described a power failure immediately before the allision; the reviewed material does not establish its technical cause. |
| Emergency warning and response | Reported | Reports stated that the pilot and crew warned authorities and attempted to slow the vessel, allowing bridge traffic to be stopped before impact. |
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board is identified as the investigation body for the contact between Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The available evidence records the initial emergency response and identifies the NTSB preliminary report, but does not provide verified final findings or a confirmed technical cause.
References
- NTSB preliminary marine investigation report: Contact of Containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge
- The Maritime Executive, “Containership Hits Baltimore Bridge, Causing Collapse and Casualties”
Video
- NTSB accident animation: Dali and the Francis Scott Key Bridge
- BBC News report: Baltimore bridge collapse
- PBS NOVA documentary: Dali and the bridge collapse
Related
- Dali
- United States
- Grace Ocean Pte Ltd
- Synergy Marine Group
- United States Coast Guard
- National Transportation Safety Board
- Allision