A Warning Ignored: 68 US Bridges Potentially at Risk, NTSB Warns
Bridge disaster revisited: NTSB identifies 68 American structures requiring assessment for vessel impact-related collapse risks, one year post Baltimore bridge failure
After the tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has found that 68 bridges across the US should be assessed to determine their risk of collapse if hit by a ship. The NTSB is urging immediate action to prevent future disasters.
On March 26, 2024, the unfortunate event unfolded when the container ship Dali lost power after leaving the Port of Baltimore, hitting a pillar of the Key Bridge and causing it to collapse, taking six construction workers' lives. The Dali encountered catastrophic electrical failures before the crash, according to an NTSB report released in May 2024.
Turns out, the Key Bridge was above the acceptable level of risk as per guidelines set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). If the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) - the bridge owner - had conducted a vulnerability assessment based on recent vessel traffic as recommended by AASHTO, they would have been informed that the Key Bridge posed an unacceptably high risk and could have taken proactive measures to reduce the risk.
The NTSB has now identified 68 other bridges spanning waterways frequented by ships like the Dali, which, like the Key Bridge, were built before 1991 and lack a current vulnerability assessment. Owners of these bridges with higher than acceptable risk ratings should develop a plan to reduce that risk, according to the NTSB's findings.
The NTSB clarifies that the 68 bridges are not imminently at risk of collapse but are recommended for assessment considering the size of ships like the Dali, which is 947 feet long.
The NTSB is urging the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work together in offering guidance and assistance to bridge owners on evaluating and reducing the risk of collapse from a vessel collision.
A year after the devastating incident, eight of the 21 Dali crew members, including top officers, are still in Baltimore, awaiting the results of federal and local investigations. No crew members have been charged, but investigators are continuing their work to determine responsibility.
While the Dali's owners reached a settlement with the US Justice Department in October 2024, the ship's Singaporean owner, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and manager, Synergy Marine PTE LTD, agreed to pay nearly $102 million to resolve a civil claim alleging cost-cutting and negligence that led to the disaster. The companies allegedly disregarded safety provisions by rigging the ship's infrastructure with makeshift repairs, leading to fatal electrical transformer failures on the night of the bridge collapse.
The city of Baltimore has filed a claim against the companies, and the families of several victims have indicated plans to sue, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of disregarding safety measures. The Dali returned to service earlier this year after extensive repairs.
- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) urges the US bridges owners of structures, built before 1991 and without a current vulnerability assessment, such as the one responsible for the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, to immediately develop a plan to reduce the risk, following the negligence case of the container ship Dali that hit the Key Bridge in 2024.
- The NTSB has identified 68 US bridges spanning waterways frequented by ships like the 947 feet long Dali, which could pose an unacceptably high risk if hit by a ship, like the Key Bridge, and should be assessed to determine their risk of collapse.
- Even though the Dali returned to service after extensive repairs earlier this year, the consequences of disregarding safety measures are still being felt as the city of Baltimore has filed a claim against the ship's Singaporean owner, Grace Ocean Private Limited, and manager, Synergy Marine PTE LTD, who agreed to pay nearly $102 million to resolve a civil claim alleging cost-cutting and negligence that led to the Key Bridge collapse, following an investigation that uncovered makeshift repairs rigged to the ship's infrastructure.
