Indian crew of 22 were aboard ship that crashed into Baltimore Key bridge, all safe

All 22 crew members who were aboard the container ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Key Bridge were Indians, the charter management entity stated. They are said to be safe and secure.

All crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries. There has also been no pollution, the charter manager, Synergy Marine Group said. The registered owner of the Singapore-flagged ship is Grace Ocean Pte Ltd.

Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed during the wee hours on Tuesday after a container ship smashed into the four-lane span, plunging cars into the river. A construction crew of eight was fixing potholes on the bridge and eight people fell into the river.

So far, two people have been rescued, with the local authorities stating that a “large area” needs to be searched. They fear six others are still missing as authorities are on the lookout. Among the rescued, one person is said to be unharmed while the other one is critically injured.

Out of the rescued individuals, one is said to be in “very serious condition”, the police told Reuters.

The 948-foot container vessel smashed a portion of the bridge’s structure, plunging several cars into the water, and triggering fears of several casualties. Dali, the container ship, was sailing along the river Patapsco when it struck the steel structure, crumpling almost the entire bridge into the water. The Dali was leaving Baltimore en route to Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The container ship was travelling at a relatively rapid speed of about eight knots and lost power in the moments before it struck the bridge, Maryland Governor Wes Moore said in a press briefing. He also said that preliminary findings indicate “an accident” and no evidence of a terror attack.

The Baltimore City Fire Department described the collapse as a ‘mass-casualty incident’ and aerial footage shot in the daylight has shed light on the magnitude of damage. The four-lane steel bridge leads to the Port of Baltimore and crosses the Patapsco River. It is the busiest US port for car shipments.