Baltimore bridge crash: How Indian crew of 22 stranded on board ship is faring

In the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collision in Baltimore, the spotlight now shines on the 22 Indian crew members trapped inside the stranded cargo ship — Dali.

The crew members have found themselves thrust into an unexpected limelight following the tragic accident that claimed six lives. While officials probe the incident, questions linger about the experiences and challenges faced by the crew amidst the wreckage.

As uncertainties loom over the timeline for the ship’s extraction, the crew members continue to endure a rigorous schedule akin to their seafaring duties.

Chris James, who works for a consulting firm assisting the ship’s management company, Synergy Marine, told New York Times that the crew members have ample supplies of food and water, as well as plenty of fuel to keep the generators going.

Even when the National Transportation Safety Board chief Jennifer Homendy went onboard the ship this week, she said she saw the crew cooking.

“It smelled very good,” New York Times quoted Jennifer Homendy as saying.

The report also stated that the Dali crew members also have some leisurely facilities, like video game cabins, a gym, table tennis, a television and some magazines and books to read.

Baltimore port officials have also sent two Wi-Fi hotspots for the crew as they did not have internet onboard.

However, there is still no official confirmation or timeline for when the ship will be extracted from the wreckage. Some officials said that efforts may be made to rotate the ship and facilitate its return as soon as the National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard conclude their investigation.

Last week, a team of US investigators boarded the container ship manned by Indian crew members and recovered its data recorder.

At least eight people went into the water, with six others presumed dead after the collision involving the Singapore-flagged Dali. It struck the 2.6km-long Francis Scott Key Bridge as the vessel left the busy port last week.

The ship collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, plunging cars into the river. A construction crew of eight was fixing potholes on the bridge and fell into the river.