Indian Crew On Ship That Collided With US Bridge To Remain On Board Until Investigation Ends

The crew of the container ship that collided with a bridge in Baltimore, USA last week will remain on board the vessel until the investigation into the accident is completed.

Representatives from Grace Ocean Pte and Synergy Marine, the Singapore-flagged ship's owner and managing company respectively, reported that all crew members are actively engaged in their standard duties and are assisting the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Coast Guard with the ongoing investigation.

The extent of the damage to the bridge and the ship has not been publicly disclosed, and the timeline for the investigation's completion remains uncertain.

“It is confirmed there are 21 crew members on board. The crew members are busy with their normal duties on the ship as well as assisting the National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard investigators on board," a spokesperson of Grace Ocean Pte and Synergy Marine was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

The crew is on board the container vessel Dali that collided with the 2.6-km-long four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore in the early hours of 26 March.

The 984-foot cargo ship was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka.

“At this time, we do not know how long the investigation process will take and until that process is complete, the crew will remain on board," the spokesperson said.

Earlier, the non-profit organisation Baltimore International Seafarers' Center had said that the Indian crew on board the container vessel was “healthy”.

India's Ministry of External Affairs had said that there were 20 Indians on board Dali and the Indian embassy in Washington was in close touch with them and local authorities.

The US authorities initiated interviewing personnel on board Dali last week.

In a statement, the Synergy Group said that the NTSB boarded the vessel and collected documents, voyage data recorder extracts, and other evidence as part of their investigation.

All crew members and two pilots aboard the vessel are safe, Grace Ocean and Synergy has confirmed.

They, however, reported one minor injury and said the injured crew member has been treated and discharged from a hospital.

Six people, who were part of a construction crew repairing potholes on the bridge when the collision occurred, are presumed dead.

US President Joe Biden said that the crew on board Dali had alerted transportation personnel about losing control of the vessel, enabling authorities to close the Baltimore bridge to traffic before the devastating collision, “undoubtedly” saving lives. 

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