Baltimore, MD – March 23, 2025 – The Maryland Transportation Authority did not complete a recommended vulnerability assessment that could have identified the Francis Scott Key Bridge as being at high risk of collapse from a ship strike, according to federal investigators.
The bridge collapsed last year after the cargo ship Dali lost power and crashed into a support pier, killing six construction workers and halting traffic at the Port of Baltimore. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Maryland officials could have taken preventive measures had they assessed the bridge’s vulnerability.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy criticized the state’s inaction, saying the bridge’s risk level was nearly 30 times above the acceptable threshold set by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Despite recommendations in 1991 and 2009 to assess older bridges, Maryland never conducted the evaluation.
“There’s no excuse,” Homendy said, adding that even after the Key Bridge disaster, the state has yet to assess the nearby Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Ongoing Investigation
The NTSB is still investigating what caused the Dali to lose power. Earlier findings suggest a loose cable may have led to electrical issues, and the ship had experienced blackouts twice before departing for Sri Lanka. Federal prosecutors allege the vessel’s systems were poorly maintained, with “jury-rigged” electrical connections.
Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Group, the ship’s owner and manager, have settled with the U.S. government, agreeing to pay over $100 million in cleanup costs.
The NTSB has issued urgent recommendations to assess 68 bridges across 19 states to prevent similar disasters. Plans for a more resilient replacement bridge are underway in Baltimore.
Homendy stressed the need for immediate action, saying, “Public safety depends on it.”