Crew members aboard the cargo ship involved in the Baltimore bridge collision are preparing to return home after nearly three months at sea, according to news.
As explained, earlier this week, Baltimore officials withdrew a petition that would have delayed their departure to facilitate questioning.
To remind, the vessel, MV Dali, collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge on March 26, leading to its collapse and the tragic deaths of six construction workers.
The majority of the 21 crew members, mainly from India, have been stranded on the ship since the incident. Investigations by the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are ongoing into the cause of the collision.
The collision caused the mile-long Francis Scott Key Bridge, crucial for regional transport, to collapse into Maryland’s Patapsco River and onto the cargo ship’s deck, blocking Baltimore’s port.
Since the accident, the seafarers have been living aboard the ship. They couldn’t disembark because they were witnesses and lacked valid US visas or shore passes.
Reports indicate that an agreement has been reached among Baltimore city officials, the ship’s owners, and its management company, allowing some sailors to finally leave the vessel. However, they must remain available for depositions even after departing the US.
The exact number of crew members set to depart initially and their departure date remain unclear.
Baltimore officials are currently determining potential compensation for the incident and have resisted efforts by the Dali’s owner to limit damages to $43 million (£33.9 million).
