NTSB report finds ship that caused Maryland bridge collapse experienced two blackouts

A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on Tuesday found that the large container ship that caused the collapse of Maryland's Francis Scott Key bridge had experienced two blackouts before the crash.

The container ship Dali collided with one of the bridge's main support columns in March, resulting in the bridge's collapse. The ship reported losing power prior to the collision, but they were able to return power to everything but the ship's propulsion just before the crash. The incident killed six workers on the bridge.

The first blackout occurred just over half a mile from the bridge, “when electrical breakers… that fed most of the vessel’s equipment and lighting unexpectedly opened," the report said, per the Hill. 

“This caused the first blackout (loss of electrical power) to all shipboard lighting and most equipment, including the main engine cooling water pumps (which controlled engine cooling water pressure) and steering gear pumps,” the report noted.

The crew was able to restore power to the ship, but it lost power again at about 0.2 miles from the bridge. They were able to return the power to most of the ship, but did not have propulsion, and the ship crashed shortly after.

“The NTSB is still investigating the electrical configuration following the first in-port blackout and potential impacts on the events during the accident voyage,” the report said.

The ship was operated by an apprentice pilot and a senior pilot at the time of the crash, and was in good operating condition when the pilots boarded the ship, CNN reported.

The preliminary report did not include a probable cause, and the FBI and United States Coast Guards are conducting a separate investigation into whether the crew failed to report the in-port power outage, an official told the outlet. The design and operation of the Dali’s power distribution system are also still being investigated.

The report comes a day before NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy is expected to testify on the bridge collapse in a hearing by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Other people who will testify consist of officials from the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Highway Administration.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.