Baltimore bridge crash: Safety investigation to include contaminated bunker fuel as possible cause
- Published
by Admin
A safety investigation into a bridge collision in Baltimore will reportedly include whether contaminated bunker fuel may have caused the incident, according to the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday (26 March).
The probe will look into whether the contaminated fuel played a role in the Singapore-registered container vessel Dali losing power and crashing into the bridge, Wall Street Journal reported, quoting sources familiar with the investigation.
Manifold Times reported Singapore-registered container vessel Dali crashing into the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, struck the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, on 26 March at about 1.30pm (Singapore Time), causing the bridge to collapse.
The ship management company, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, reported to Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) that just prior to the incident, the vessel had experienced momentary loss of propulsion.
As a result, the 95,000 GT ship was unable to maintain the desired heading and collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge.
In its latest statement on 27 March, MPA said it is working with the ship management company, Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, to facilitate information exchange to support US Coast Guard in its investigation.
“MPA has also requested the vessel’s classification society, ClassNK, to prepare the technical assessment and stability calculations, which are important parameters to support the US Coast Guard in the planning and subsequent safe execution of the vessel salvage operations,” it said.
“MPA, as the Singapore flag administration, takes its responsibilities for the safety of vessels registered under its flag very seriously.”
“It works with eight international classification societies, appointed as MPA’s Recognised Organisations, to survey, inspect and ensure Singapore-flag vessels comply with all applicable statutory requirements.”
As part of its flag state obligations, MPA will be conducting an investigation to determine whether there have been any infringements of relevant statutory requirements under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
“The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), under Singapore’s Ministry of Transport, will be conducting an independent marine safety investigation under the International Maritime Organization’s Casualty Investigation Code with the objective of identifying lessons to prevent future marine casualties and incidents,” it added.
“TSIB’s marine safety investigation do not seek to apportion responsibility or determine the liability for the incident.”
Yesterday, MPA also confirmed the vessel underwent and passed previous foreign port state inspection.
MPA said Dali was flagged with Singapore from October 2016 and is classed by classification society ClassNK.
Based on records, MPA confirmed that the vessel’s required classification society and statutory certificates covering the structural integrity of the vessel and functionality of the vessel’s equipment, were valid at the time of the incident.
According to AP News, at least eight people went into the water in the incident. Two bodies were reportedly recovered from the site of the collapsed bridge.
Photo credit: FBI Baltimore
Published: 28 March 2024
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