Baltimore Bridge investigators to examine whether dirty fuel played role

A safety investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore will include an examination of whether contaminated fuel contributed to the incident.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, safety investigators had not yet boarded the Dali, the giant cargo ship involved in the crash, which remained lodged at a pillar of the collapsed bridge.

• The vessel is expected to remain in its current location for weeks, while rescue crews continue to search for potential survivors.

• The Dali experienced power issues shortly after embarking on its journey early Tuesday.

Reports indicate that the lights on the ship began to flicker about an hour after departure, with the harbor pilot and assistant reporting a loss of propulsion before the collision. An officer aboard the ship described a sudden loss of power, with one of the engines ceasing to function and a pervasive smell of burnt fuel in the engine room.

Contaminated fuel

According to Fotis Pagoulatos, a naval architect based in Athens, contaminated fuel can pose significant risks to a ship’s main power generators, potentially leading to a complete blackout and loss of propulsion.

While smaller generators may activate in response, they are unable to fully replace the functions of the main generators and may take time to engage.

Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, announced during a press conference that the investigation will encompass reviews of the vessel’s operations and safety history, as well as those of its owner and operator.

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Efforts will also be made to secure recorders from the ship to gain further insight into the sequence of events leading up to the collision.

The Dali, constructed in 2015 by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, is a Panamax-type ship capable of carrying up to 10,000 containers.

Despite its size, the vessel is a common sight in U.S. ports on the East Coast and regularly transits through major canals such as the Panama and Suez Canals.