The cargo ship Dali set sail from Baltimore to Virginia on Monday, almost three months after it lost power and collided with a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, leading to the bridge’s collapse.
The 984-foot Dali started its journey around 8:30 a.m. with the assistance of four tugboats.
The Dali was operating under its own power with a full crew of 22 and six salvage experts, as confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard in a news release.
The Coast Guard is supervising the voyage and has established a 500-yard safety zone around the Dali during its transit.
The Dali is planned to proceed directly to Virginia International Gateway to unload approximately 1,500 cargo containers to reduce draft, according to the Coast Guard. Afterwards, the vessel will travel to Norfolk International Terminal for further salvage and repair work following the bridge incident.
Shortly after departing the Port of Baltimore on March 26, the ship lost power, leading to the collision with the bridge’s support column, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of six construction workers.
On May 20, the Dali was refloated and returned to port after being stuck amidst the wreckage for nearly two months, with significant damage to its bow.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed two power outages before the ship’s departure from the Port of Baltimore. The FBI has also initiated a criminal investigation into the incident.
Recently, some crew members of the Dali were allowed to return home under an agreement confirmed by a federal judge. Out of the 10 permitted to leave, eight have already done so, confirmed by Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for ship manager Synergy Marine.
Thousands of individuals in the maritime industry have been affected by the bridge collapse, prompting efforts from local and state officials to restore normal port operations and mitigate economic repercussions.
Officials have expressed their goal to rebuild the bridge by 2028, with the submission deadline for proposals for the bridge reconstruction project in Maryland having passed on Monday.
