Huadong completes repairs on M/V Dali
Pinned by a section of the bridge, M/V Dali blocked the waterway for weeks after the incident (Source: USACE)
M/V Dali, the vessel involved in last year’s grounding and subsequent collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge, has been fully repaired following a stint at Huadong Shipyard, which began in November.
The vessel left the Port of Baltimore on March 26 with an electrical fault, which caused a series of blackouts and locked up M/V Dali’s steering as it approached the bridge.
In desperation, the crew dropped anchor, yielding a drastic swerve to port – but not quickly enough. The bow of the vessel swung to starboard, and ultimately the vessel careered into bridge pier 17 - one of the only two critical to the integrity of the entire bridge structure.
During the accident, a section of the bridge fell across the vessel’s bow, pinning it in place. Ultimately, this necessitating the use of explosives to remove the debris, while the crew remained on board.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation found that a botched scrubber maintenance operation had led to instabilities in the electrical system in the hours before departure. When the blackouts occurred, the vessel lost access to critical systems, including the main engine cooling pumps, and steering gear pumps.
The vessel’s owner, Grace Owner, and manager, Synergy Maritime, are now locked into several fierce legal battles, and it is not yet known for how much they will eventually be held liable. Late last year, it was announced that the companies would pay USD 100 million to the US treasury.
