Another massive cargo ship loses control while leaving an American harbor — this time halted before bridge



A massive container ship attempting to leave the waters around New York City Friday reportedly suffered a similar issue to that experienced by the vessel that tragically brought the historic Francis Scott Key Bridge crashing into Baltimore Harbor late last month.

Unlike the Singapore-flagged Dali, the propulsion problem suffered by the APL Qingdao did not ultimately prove to be calamitous.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to the New York Post that the APL Qingdao, a 1,145-foot, 89,000-ton ship flying under the Malta flag, lost propulsion around 8:30 p.m. while sailing along the shipping lane between Staten Island and Bayonne, New Jersey.

According to John Konrad, a maritime journalist and the CEO of gCaptain, the three tugboats that had been escorting the ship down the 3-mile Kill Van Kull waterway were aided by another three in an effort to bring the ship under control.

The ship subsequently dropped anchor just north of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.

BREAKING: A NY tugboat captain has reported to @gCaptain \u201ccontainer ship APL QINGDAO lost power while transiting New York harbor. They had 3 escort tugs but 3 more were needed to bring her under control. They regained power & were brought to anchor near the verrazano bridge\u201d
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"Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service New York received a report from the M/V APL Qingdao around 8:30pm, Friday, that the vessel had experienced a loss of propulsion in the Kill Van Kull waterway," the Coast Guard said in a statement obtained by the Post.

"The vessel regained propulsion and was assisted to safely anchor in Stapleton Anchorage, outside of the navigable channel just north of the Verrazano Bridge, by three towing vessels," continued the statement. "These towing vessels were escorting the vessel as a routine safety measure, which is a common practice for large vessels departing their berth."

Prior to leaving, the crew had to submit a casualty report accounting for what caused the loss of power. CBS News noted that repairs were also made to the ship's system following the incident.

At the time of publication, VesselFinder indicated that the ship had successfully made its way out of the New York harbor and was nearing its destination of Norfolk, Virginia.

Staten Island Assemblyman Charles Fall (D) told SILive.com, "While the swift response by tugboats to secure the vessel prevented immediate harm, this incident further highlights the urgent need for comprehensive safety reviews of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, the Goethals Bridge, the Bayonne Bridge, and the Outerbridge Crossing."

"The recent disaster at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland is a harrowing reminder of what could happen if we fail to prioritize the integrity of our infrastructure," added Fall.

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse
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Two weeks after power outages and a propulsion problem allegedly sent the container ship Dali crashing into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, divers continue to search for bodies. At least six people are believed to be dead.

Officials announced Friday that they had recovered the body of a third victim, 38-year-old Maynor Yasir Suazo-Sandoval, reported the Independent.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers indicated that a new channel will be ready for use by month's end, enabling ships to enter and leave the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) told CBS News' "Face the Nation" that maritime operations in the Port of Baltimore could be functional as early as May.

March was apparently a bad month for American bridges and boats.

A bridge over the Arkansas River south of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was also struck by a boat late last month. Despite a powerful thwacking sound, there was minimal damage and no casualties.

The Associated Press reported that a barge struck a pier holding Highway 59 over the river on March 30. After a brief road closure, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation indicated that the structure was subsequently deemed sound by engineers and safe to transit.

Barge crashes into the Arkansas River Bridge in Oklahoma
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Ship that obliterated Baltimore bridge was involved in a previous collision; managed by DEI-captive company



Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge is apparently not the first structure that the Dali has left its mark on in recent years. The Singapore-flagged container ship that obliterated the bridge and effectively closed the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic Tuesday morning previously had an incident in a Belgian port.

The Dali, a 984-foot vessel owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and managed by the DEI-captive Synergy Marine Group, collided with the stone pier in the Port of Antwerp during unmooring maneuvers on July 11, 2016.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on a clear day with good weather, resulted in significant damages to the stern and transom of the ship.

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VesselFinder noted at the time that the ship remained afloat but suffered breaches near the waterline as well as serious damage to its berth requiring repairs. The ship was detained and closed for cargo.

"As a general rule, these accidents are investigated, and ships are only allowed to leave after experts have determined it is safe for them to do so," a spokesman for the Port of Antwerp told Reuters.

The incident was reportedly the result of mistakes made by the master and pilot on board.

The same ship attempted to leave the Baltimore Harbor just after 1:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. However, while traveling at what Maryland Gov. Wes Moore indicated was a "very rapid speed," the ship allegedly lost power. The pilots alerted authorities but were evidently unable to arrest the ship's progress.

Blaze News previously reported that Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley claimed there is "absolutely no indication" that the Dali rammed into the bridge intentionally.

The FBI Baltimore field office indicated several hours after the incident that there "is no specific and credible information to suggest any ties to terrorism at this time."

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report suggested the Dali "lost propulsion" while leaving port and that the pilots alerted officials to their loss of control.

At 1:28 a.m., the unlit container ship careened into a pier holding up the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The bridge, which spanned 1.6 miles over the Patapsco River, immediately collapsed.

Several vehicles atop the bridge at the time of the collision plunged into the frigid waters below. Two individuals were rescued, one of whom was in critical condition. Six were still missing at the time of publication.

The ship's all-Indian crew all survived.

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Synergy Marine Group, the company tasked with managing the ship, appears to have priorities besides avoiding collisions with critical infrastructure.

The company touts itself as a "leading shipmanager ... provid[ing] end-to-end maritime solutions with precisely and expertly tailored services."

Synergy Marine Group states on its website that "issues related to diversity are a high priority at Synergy. We realize that the benefits of diversity are best achieved by fostering greater inclusion and belonging."

The company indicated that its goal is a "workplace that is truly characterized by inclusion and belonging."

Days prior to paralyzing a major American port, the company underscored its commitment to "Diversity@Sea" and DEI.

Baltimore was apparently the company's latest stop on its "DEI journey in building an innovative and sustainable maritime sector which all can be proud of."

The company said in a statement that "whilst the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined, the 'DALI' has now mobilised its Qualified Individual Incident response service. The US Coast Guard and local officials have been notified, and the owners and managers are fully cooperating with Federal and State government agencies under an approved plan."

President Joe Biden suggested Tuesday afternoon that he had directed his administration "to ensure every federal resource is available to assist search and rescue efforts and response to this terrible incident."

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Cargo ship rams into major Baltimore bridge, causing total collapse



Early Tuesday morning, a Singapore-flagged container ship called the Dali rammed into one of the piers holding up Francis Scott Key Bridge, a steel arch-shaped truss bridge extending Interstate 695 some 1,200 feet over the Baltimore Harbor. Upon impact, the bridge came toppling down — along with those vehicles on the compromised segments.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman indicated the bridge has "totally collapsed" and that rescue teams are on site.

So far, there have been no reports of casualties.

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace indicated that two people were pulled from the waters, one of whom was in serious condition, reported the Associated Press.

Wallace noted that authorities "may be looking for upwards of seven people."

The fire department reportedly employed sonar to detect vehicles that plunged into the depths.

A livestream captured the precise moment the 984-foot vessel crashed into the bridge, timestamped at 1:28 a.m.. The ship can be seen smashing into one of the piers on its way out of the port, triggering a chain reaction.

Minutes earlier, the lights aboard the ship appear to flicker, suggestive of a possible electronic malfunction.

The 9-year-old ship was on its way to Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to VesselFinder.

BREAKING: Ship collides with Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse
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A photo from the tragedy at the Francis Scott Key Bridge. \n\n*Double checked, actual photo of cargo ship. #francisscottkeybridge \n\nAwaiting press conference around 7amET\u2026.
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Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) declared a state of emergency and indicated the state is working with an inter-agency team to deploy federal resources.

Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, called the incident a "dire emergency" and expressed concerns earlier in the morning that the collapse may amount to a "developing mass casualty event."

The remains of both the collapsed bridge and the ship's cargo may hinder traffic into and out of the port, the second-busiest port in the mid-Atlantic. This could prove greatly consequential for trade and commerce.

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\ud83d\udea8#BREAKING: Morning Daylight reveals the aftermath of the mass casualty event of the Scott Key Bridge collapse\n\n\ud83d\udccc#Baltimore | #Maryland\n\nWatch As morning daylight approaches, it reveals the devastating aftermath of an early morning incident after a large cargo ship from\u2026
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Synergy Marine Group, the outfit that owns and manages the vessel, reportedly confirmed that the ship collided with the bridge while in control of two pilots. The crew suffered no fatalities or injuries.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley indicated there is "absolutely no indication" that the Dali rammed into the bridge intentionally.

An unclassified Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency report noted that the Dali "lost propulsion" while leaving port and that the pilots alerted officials to their loss of control, reported ABC News.

The Maryland Transportation Authority noted that alternate routes across the harbor are the I-95 or I-895 tunnels. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials are barred from using the tunnels and must use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels, according to the MDTA.

Brandon Scott, Baltimore's Democratic mayor, said, "This is a tragedy that you can never imagine," adding that the collapse "looked like something out of an action movie."

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