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Faulty Wire Caused Dali's Bridge Disaster
19 Nov
Summary
- A loose signal wire caused the cargo ship Dali to lose power.
- The NTSB cited the Maryland Transportation Authority for bridge safety failures.
- Rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge will cost $5.2 billion.
The collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge was triggered by a loose signal wire that caused a total power blackout on the cargo ship Dali. This loss of power left the vessel without propulsion or steering moments before it struck a support pier.
The National Transportation Safety Board's final report identified improper installation of a wireless label banding as the root cause of the electrical failure. The NTSB further criticized the Maryland Transportation Authority for not conducting a vulnerability assessment, a step that could have enhanced the bridge's resilience against ship strikes.
Engineers also pointed to the crew's misuse of a flushing pump and critical systems being left in manual mode, hindering recovery. The disaster's aftermath includes a projected rebuilding cost of $5.2 billion and a completion timeline extending to 2030, significantly exceeding initial estimates.
