The ship that caused the US bridge collapse has warned of a possible collision. Warning prevented a major tragedy

All 22 crew members of the cargo ship Dali have been identified, and no casualties have been reported. It is known that the container ship was operated by a pilot from the Port of Baltimore and that before the accident, the ship issued a distress signal, reporting a “technical problem.”

The Maryland Department of Transportation was alerted that the vessel was out of control and that a collision was possible, allowing authorities to shut down traffic at the scene. That is why few cars drive along Francis Scott Key. Authorities have already ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack.

When asked about the impact of this type of accident on the nation’s major bridges, Antonio Adan da Fonseca, president of the Northern Regional Civil Engineering Assembly, explained: “The Baltimore bridge is a little different from the April 25 bridge. If such a vessel collides with one of the pillars, it can also cause a serious accident, but in this case the suspension is carried out using cables that are securely attached to the banks. When the pole was tilted, the already tensioned cables resisted further stretching and counteracted the rotation of the pole. The Vasco da Gama Bridge, made entirely of concrete, is more durable, but if a large boat collided with one of the pillars, the column could also collapse and the deck could fall. The Arrábida Bridge rests on the slopes, while the Luís I Bridge rests on a rocky shore. If a larger boat hit the lower deck, it might capsize, but it wouldn’t necessarily cause the bow to fall.”

“Dali” left Baltimore and headed to Sri Lanka, a journey that lasted 27 days. Since its construction in 2015, the cargo ship has undergone 27 inspections. It failed in 2016 due to hull damage, and in June 2023 due to problems with the propulsion system. The last inspection was in September and everything was fine.