A Singapore-flagged cargo ship named ‘Dali’ faced a power failure and collided with the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge, leading to a catastrophic event in the United States. The mayday signal from the all-Indian crew onboard ‘Dali’ played a pivotal role in preventing further tragedy. Following their distress call, a dispatcher quickly warned over the radio about the cargo ship’s loss of steering capabilities and its impending collision with the bridge.
In response to the alert, U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, initiated a swift search and rescue mission. While two workers were successfully rescued, six remain missing and are presumed dead. The bridge was closed to traffic within approximately 90 seconds of the alert, allowing authorities to prevent potential vehicular disasters.
The Maryland Department of Transportation hailed the Indian crew members as heroes, acknowledging their quick thinking and bravery. Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed gratitude, emphasizing that the crew’s timely mayday call enabled the prevention of vehicular traffic on the bridge, potentially saving numerous lives. Synergy Marine Group, the vessel management company, confirmed the safety of all crew members, while the missing workers were identified as being from Latin American countries.
Source: Hindustan Times