The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has initiated a criminal investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
According to Reuters, FBI agents have boarded container Dali in Baltimore to conduct law enforcement activities related to the crash. The investigation will examine whether the ship’s crew knew about serious problems with the vessel’s systems before leaving port. Furthermore, the ship’s “black box” recorder has been recovered, providing crucial data on its position, speed, and communications.
Simultaneously, the city of Baltimore has taken legal action by enlisting the services of two law firms to explore litigation against the owner, charterer, and operator of the Dali. Amidst these developments, the owner of the Dali has initiated a formal “general average” process, indicating the beginning of legal proceedings related to the incident.
Efforts to clear the wreckage and restore traffic in the Baltimore port’s shipping channel are ongoing, though the process is expected to be lengthy. In the interim, temporary channels have been opened to accommodate some vessels navigating around the damaged container vessel.
Tragically, the incident claimed the lives of six construction workers, with the recent recovery of a fourth victim’s body. Two individuals remain missing, underscoring the magnitude of the tragedy and the urgency of the investigation.
