Ship said to have lost propulsion and ability to maintain direction just before hitting Baltimore bridge

SINGAPORE: The Singapore-flagged ship that crashed into a bridge on Tuesday (Mar 26) in the United States, resulting in its collapse, reportedly lost propulsion and was not able to keep to its desired course.

That was the account given by Synergy Marine, the ship management company of the vessel Dali, to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

"Just prior to the incident, the vessel had experienced momentary loss of propulsion," said MPA in a media statement on Tuesday, citing Synergy Marine.

"As a result, she was unable to maintain the desired heading and collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge."

Synergy Marine also told MPA that the container ship had dropped its anchor as part of the vessel’s emergency procedures prior to hitting the bridge.

MPA added that the ship was also reported to have been "under pilotage" at the time of the incident. Marine pilots are licensed experts with local knowledge employed to guide ships into or out of port.

"The vessel is currently holding onto its position at the site of the collision and is in a stable condition. All 22 crew members are safe and accounted for," said MPA

"Search and rescue efforts led by US authorities are ongoing."

INVESTIGATORS DEPLOYED

A team of investigators from the Singapore Transport Ministry's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau and MPA are on their way to Baltimore, said MPA.

The authority has offered its assistance to the US Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board's Office of Marine Safety.

MPA said earlier that it would also investigate the collision.

The container ship Dali collided with the bridge at about 1.30am (1.30pm Singapore time), causing the bridge to collapse.

Up to 20 people as well as multiple vehicles may have fallen into the water, according to the Baltimore Fire Department.

Ship tracking data showed that the Dali is registered with Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and its manager is Synergy Marine Group.

According to MPA, the Dali is a 95,000 gross tonnage container vessel that was operating with 22 crew members on board at the time of the incident.

Synergy Marine said the ship's crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.

The ship had been chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk at the time of the accident.

As the Dali’s flag state, Singapore has the responsibility of conducting an inquiry into the Baltimore accident.

Under Article 94 of the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea, a vessel's flag state also has the responsibility of taking measures to ensure the safety of the ship through its construction, equipment and seaworthiness.

A vessel is bound by the laws and regulatory requirements of the flag state, which is responsible for the enforcement of standards.

Maritime experts say it is not uncommon for vessels to fly the flag of one country even while their owners are based in another country.

Singapore has one of the world's largest ship registries, with more than 4,400 ships sailing under the country's flag, according to MPA's website.

Despite the responsibilities, a flag state does not usually bear any liability in accidents such as the one in Baltimore.

The liability for losses to cargo or damage to the environment will likely fall on the Dali's owners and, depending on the evidence, may be covered by the ship's insurers.