Dali Container Ship Leaves Baltimore After Key Bridge Collapse

The Dali container ship, infamous for crashing into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge and causing its collapse three months ago, has begun its departure from the Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal. Assisted by four tugboats, the 984-foot vessel set sail for Norfolk, Virginia, early Monday morning to unload its containers and undergo extensive repairs following the tragic incident that claimed six lives and prompted multiple federal inquiries.

Covered with a tarp over a bow hole sustained during the collision, the Dali navigated the federal shipping channel under its own power, traveling at approximately 7 knots (8 mph) by 9 a.m. Maryland Transportation Authority announced a brief halt in traffic on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis between 11 a.m. and noon as a precautionary measure to prevent distractions for drivers during the ship’s passage.

Since the vessel lost power on March 26, resulting in the Key Bridge pier collision and subsequent bridge collapse, the Dali has remained docked in Baltimore. The incident not only obstructed the city’s shipping channel for over two months but also disrupted local traffic flow by eliminating a crucial harbor crossing. Investigations into the calamity are being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board, the FBI, and a Coast Guard board of inquiry examining potential risks to other U.S. bridges.

Last month, efforts to remove debris included the explosive cutting of a section of the Key Bridge atop the Dali, followed by the ship's refloating with the assistance of five tugboats. While some wreckage was cleared from its crumpled bow at Seagirt Marine Terminal, remnants such as crushed containers remain aboard as the vessel heads to Norfolk for further cleanup and repairs upon arrival.

As the ship departed, a small group, including local resident George M. Treas III, observed from Fort Armistead Park, reflecting on the tragedy and its impact. Treas expressed relief at the ship's departure, likening the incident to a profound loss and stating, “It feels good. I feel safer now. They caused enough havoc here.”