Report says 1 of 22 Indian crew injured in collision with US bridge

Names and other details of the crew have not yet been released. (document)

New York:

One of the 22 Indian crew members on board the Singapore-flagged cargo ship Dali suffered “minor injuries” after it collided with a bridge in Baltimore and the rest of the crew were safe, its owner said on Wednesday.

The 2.6-kilometer, four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge over Baltimore’s Patapsco River collapsed early Tuesday morning after it collided with the Dali, a 984-foot-long freighter.

A statement from shipowner Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and Dali ship manager said: “We confirm the safety of all crew members and two pilots on the ‘Dali’. One crew member was reported to have suffered minor injuries. The injured crew member has been treated and discharged.” Published on the website of ship management company Synergy Marine Group.

Names and other details of the crew have not yet been released.

U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board authorities boarded the ship to investigate, the report said.

Following the accident, Synergy said in a statement on Tuesday that the Dali’s crew was “all Indian, 22 people in total”. “All crew members, including the two pilots, are unaccounted for and there are no reports of injuries. There was no contamination,” Synergy said.

Synergy and Grace Ocean noted that “unfortunately” the incident also affected those who were on the bridge at the time.

“According to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), search and rescue operations that night have been canceled. Six people are presumed dead. Our deepest sympathies go out to all those affected and their families. Our hearts go out to them. .” Coordinate closely with authorities to manage the aftermath of the incident, including environmental impact assessments. ” The company said emergency response teams have been deployed and are currently in Baltimore to support ongoing efforts to ensure crew safety, maintain vessel integrity and facilitate the rapid and safe reopening of waterways.

It noted media reports that U.S. President Joe Biden and Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed “thank you to the crew for issuing a distress warning before impact, which they said may have saved lives.” Authorities also said the crew’s distress call Officers were able to stop vehicles from entering the bridge, “undoubtedly” saving more lives. Construction crews were repairing potholes on the bridge when the accident occurred. Two people were rescued from the water and six construction workers are still missing.

Speaking at the White House, President Biden said that “those on the boat were able to alert the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of the vessel… As a result, local authorities were able to close the bridge before the bridge was struck. Transportation, it definitely saves lives.” Joe Biden said he was sending in all the federal resources needed to respond to the emergency. Together we will rebuild the port,” he said.

He stressed that “everything so far points to” a terrible accident. “At this point, we have no other indication – no other reason to believe there was any intentional behavior here,” Joe Biden said.

The vessel, owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, sails from Baltimore to Colombo with a capacity of 10,000 TEU and a total load on board of 4,679 TEU. The ship has a deadweight tonnage of 116,851 DWT.

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