Baltimore bridge collapse: crew members from ship still held by US two years on

Despite no criminal charges being brought against them, four officers have been detained since the MV Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six workers

Several crew members of a ship that collided with a bridge in Baltimore almost two years ago are still being held in the US by federal authorities despite the fact that no criminal charges have been brought against them.

In the early hours of 26 March 2024, the MV Dali departed the port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka. While navigating the Fort McHenry channel, the 1,000ft-long Singapore-flagged cargo vessel lost power before striking the bridge. The impact resulted in the deaths of six people who were working on the bridge at the time.

The Dali’s four most senior crew members – the captain, chief engineer, chief electrician, and second officer – have remained in Baltimore as part of the ongoing investigation, according to four sources from the maritime sector with knowledge of the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The crew members are from India and Sri Lanka.

“These men don’t know when they are going to see their families again,” said one source. “They’re stuck here with no light at the end of the tunnel. They don’t know if they’ll ever be hired again. It’s sad and it’s scary. They’re just sitting on their hands right now.”