The FBI has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, focusing on the events leading up to the Dali ship's collision with the bridge and whether the crew was aware of any issues. The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting its own investigation. The bridge collapse resulted in six deaths and forced the closure of the port of Baltimore, with officials working to reroute port traffic and aiming to reopen at normal capacity by the end of May.
Crews have begun removing shipping containers from the Dali, the cargo vessel that caused the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Efforts are underway to clear the main shipping channel and restore normal capacity by the end of May, with President Biden pledging federal support for the bridge's reconstruction. Three of the six construction workers involved in the incident have been found, while the search for the remaining three continues. Temporary channels have allowed some vessels to pass, but 11 cargo ships, including those supporting U.S. military forces, remain trapped in the port.
The owners of the Dali ship have denied responsibility for the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, seeking a cap of $43.7m for any lawsuit payouts, as a temporary shipping route around the wreckage was opened to restore trade. The crew members of the Dali ship, stuck on board since the disaster, are in good health and assisting in the ongoing investigation, while President Biden has instructed a "whole-of-government response" to aid in the emergency response and rebuild the bridge. The ship's owner has filed a petition to limit liability under the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, a law that notably protected the makers of the "Titanic".
