Search for missing people continues after Baltimore bridge collapse

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On Tuesday, part of a Baltimore bridge was destroyed by a container ship, which caused six construction workers to go missing. This incident also sent people and cars into the water and resulted in the closure of one of the United States' important trading ports. As of late Tuesday, the US Coast Guard is still conducting a search to locate the missing workers.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a vessel hit the bridge over the Patapsco river which subsequently collapsed. This resulted in the Port of Baltimore temporarily suspending all shipping traffic.

Car manufacturers are in a hurry to redirect their shipping to other ports, including New York harbour, due to Baltimore being the primary point of entry for imported cars on the east coast of the United States.

After rescuing all those involved in the collision, the National Transportation Safety Board will begin examining what caused the accident. The collision occurred between the Dali container ship, measuring 300 meters in length, and the bustling bridge that supports the Interstate 695 highway over the river.

The president of the United States, Joe Biden, declared that the government would cover the complete expenses of rebuilding the bridge. Additionally, he mentioned that they are getting ready to provide the state of Maryland with all the resources they require from the federal government.

Biden stated that they will restore the bridge swiftly. Inquired if private entities ought to compensate for the wreckage, he replied that they won't delay and will fully fund the rebuilding of the bridge to promptly re-open it.

On Tuesday, in Baltimore, rescue officials reported that they had successfully brought two individuals out of the Patapsco river. It is suspected that the other six people in the area were working on repairing potholes as part of construction work when the collapse occurred.

The governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, mentioned that the vessel had notified them of experiencing a power outage just before the crash and urgently called for help. Consequently, he announced a state of emergency.

The video clip displayed a part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge breaking down around 1:30am in the nearby time region. They initially launched the bridge in 1977.

The Port of Baltimore stated that it is closed to ships until they provide further notice, but they will still accept trucks. President Biden mentioned that the US Army Corps of Engineers will act quickly to remove whatever is blocking the channel and enable ships to access the port again.

Maersk, the second largest shipping company in the world, from Denmark, has recognized that it leased the container ship named Dali, responsible for colliding with the bridge. According to the company, Synergy Group was in charge of operating the ship, which carried the cargo of Maersk's clients.

The shipping company stated that the bridge was damaged and there were things in the way, making it impossible to get to the Baltimore port. As a result, they will not be stopping in Baltimore anytime soon until they know it is safe to travel through that area.

Baltimore fire department chief James Wallace reported that the rescue efforts were underway on various levels such as above and below the water, as well as on the ship's deck. During the operation, a few vehicles were identified in the water.

Baltimore's mayor, Brandon Scott, expressed his deep sorrow towards the tragic incident, stating that it is something that should never have happened.

The tracking service called Marine Traffic gave details about a ship called Dali. It is from Singapore and has started to travel from Baltimore to Colombo, a port in Sri Lanka. The Synergy Group stated that the ship is getting help from skilled pilots to leave the port.

Synergy reported that all crew members, including the two pilots who were on the plane, have been found and there have been no reports of injuries.

Kweisi Mfume, the representative for Maryland's district in the Democratic party, expressed that the collapse was an unimaginable and terrifying event.

"We are currently offering our prayers for the individuals who are missing and the victims of this calamity," he expressed.

CSX, a major freight railroad corporation operating on the eastern coast, has cautioned customers to expect delays in deliveries following the collapse of a bridge. The company has also suspended all international intermodal shipments going to Baltimore and has cited several other consequences.

According to the records of insurance companies, Dali was covered by liability insurance provided by Britannia. Britannia is part of a worldwide network of insurers that shares the financial risk and ultimately receives insurance from Lloyd's of London.

According to professionals knowledgeable in marine insurance, it is probable that the incident will bring about a sizable request for compensation. The claim may be for the destruction of the bridge and disturbances caused within the port.

Baltimore is a highly active hub for shipping along the eastern coast of the United States. The port caters to a vast metropolitan region inclusive of Washington, DC. Incidents of significant impact and harm caused by encounters between vessels and civilian structures are not common occurrences. Such occurrences are infrequent, and the damage inflicted is usually minimal, causing limited injuries.

David Sheppard, Michael Peel, and Ian Smith in London provided extra information for this blog post.