Posted on July 17, 2024
The U.S. Coast Guard documented more than 200 ships losing power, propulsion, steering or suffering equipment failures since March 26. That’s the day a drifting cargo ship struck and collapsed Baltimore’s Key Bridge. The NTSB’s initial findings into the collision and Key Bridge collapse show the 112,000-ton cargo ship Dali lost power and control as it left the Port of Baltimore.
WJLA’s review of Coast Guard incident investigation records shows more than 100 cargo ships lost control in the Chesapeake Bay since 2010, some near the Key Bridge in Baltimore and Bay Bridge outside Annapolis. In August 2017, Coast Guard records show the cargo ship Jai Sheng Shan lost propulsion near one of the Bay Bridge’s piers. In March 2020, the Maersk Shams experienced a similar loss of propulsion near the Bay Bridge, according to the Coast Guard’s records.
The Coast Guard records likely represent only a sample of actual shipping incidents. The Dali’s power loss and collision are not included in USCG incident records. Neither is a July 1 incident near Baltimore’s Port. Marine tracking data shows the cargo ship Bellavia left the Port for 27 minutes. Maryland maritime officials said the vessel briefly lost power and returned to Baltimore for repairs.
“Ship malfunctions are more common than people think,” CEO of Baltimore-based General Ship Repair Ryan Lynch said. “It’s not uncommon to have a blackout, to lose power.”
Lynch is the fourth generation to repair ships. General Ship Repair Corporation celebrates its 100th birthday in October. While the Baltimore-based ship repair operation does travel to the Port, it does not repair cargo ship mechanical systems as those are largely proprietary. The work is specialized to the manufacturer.
General Ship Repair Corporation fixes ships after mechanical failures. Coast Guard records show power loss incidents can lead to ships running aground, sinking, or damaging bridge support structures.
“This could happen in any of your districts,” NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy warned members of Congress during a hearing about the Key Bridge collapse in May.
The NTSB has not issued a final report on why the Dali crashed into Baltimore’s Key Bridge. Homendy’s testimony detailed the risk larger cargo ships cruising under aging American infrastructure pose. The deputy Commandant for Coast Guard Operations said it is organizing a national board of inquiry to explore the risk associated with increasingly larger cargo ships.
The U.S. Coast Guard documented more than 200 ships losing power, propulsion, steering or suffering equipment failures since March 26.
The U.S. Coast Guard documented more than 200 ships losing power, propulsion, steering or suffering equipment failures since March 26.
