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A full year after the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster in Baltimore, eleven crew members from the cargo vessel Dali remain stranded in the United States as federal investigations continue into the fatal incident.
On March 26, 2024, the container ship Dali lost power shortly after leaving the Port of Baltimore, striking a support column of the Key Bridge. The impact triggered a catastrophic collapse, killing six construction workers who were carrying out overnight maintenance. Only one worker survived.
Federal authorities, including the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), are still deep into their investigation. As part of the ongoing process, eleven of the vessel’s crew—those with senior responsibilities onboard—have been asked to remain in Baltimore. The rest of the crew, ten in total, were cleared to return home in June 2024.
The seafarers, primarily from India, have since been housed in hotels and supported financially by the vessel’s management firm, Synergy Marine. While their situation is stable, it remains far from ideal. Some of the crew have adapted by learning to cook their own meals, streaming cricket matches to stay connected to home, and occasionally exploring local sights. According to reporting by The Baltimore Banner, three of the eleven were temporarily allowed to return to India for emergencies, including medical treatment and a family wedding.
Although the crew are not currently facing any charges, the legal cloud hanging over the Dali remains dense. Multiple civil suits have been filed against both the vessel’s owner and operator, including claims from victims’ families and local businesses impacted by the port closure. The FBI has yet to determine whether criminal charges could follow for either company or individual crew members.
The bridge collapse had immediate and wide-reaching economic consequences. For nearly two months, broken bridge debris blocked critical shipping routes into Baltimore, one of the East Coast’s busiest ports. The Dali itself remained lodged near the wreckage until it was finally cleared, allowing full vessel traffic to resume by June 2024.
Repairs to the Francis Scott Key Bridge are underway, with a projected reopening date of October 15, 2028. Rebuilding costs are expected to exceed $2 billion, underscoring the massive scale of the disruption. For now, the eleven seafarers continue to wait in legal limbo—caught between duty, bureaucracy, and a tragedy that altered the course of many lives.
Source:NU
