After the bridge collapse in Baltimore, US President Joe Biden announced extensive financial support. “I intend for the government to cover the entire cost of rebuilding this bridge,” the Democrat said at a news conference in Washington. “And I expect Congress to support my efforts.” He promised Maryland Governor Wes Moore to take every step to rebuild the bridge and reopen the Port of Baltimore, which lies just behind the Francis Scott Key Bridge, “as quickly as humanly possible.” The responsible port authority had previously suspended shipping traffic there until further notice.
A large container ship rammed the four-lane bridge on Tuesday night and largely caused it to collapse. Videos show how the ship hits one of the pillars and the bridge partially collapses. According to the fire department, several people and vehicles fell into the water. A diving team is on site. The state’s transport minister, Paul Wiedefeld, said six people were currently missing in the water. Two people have been rescued so far. It is assumed that the victims were construction workers.
As Biden explained, the port of Baltimore is one of the most important maritime ports of call in the USA – especially for the import and export of cars and light trucks. According to this, around 850,000 vehicles are shipped through the port every year. Around 15,000 jobs depend on it. The Francis Scott Key Bridge is also an important traffic artery on the east coast of the USA. According to this, around 30,000 vehicles crossed the bridge per day before the accident.
Economic consequences: Supply chain problems possible
According to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the accident also has economic consequences. Because of the importance of the port behind it, we are already preparing for supply chain problems, “which we know will come,” said Buttigieg at a press conference on Tuesday. These would then not only affect the region around Baltimore, “but the entire US economy.” According to Buttigieg, the main part of the port lies behind the collapsed bridge.
The photo shows part of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which partially collapsed after colliding with a ship early Tuesday morning.
(Photo: Julia Nikhinson/Reuters)
It is still unclear why the ship hit one of the bridge pillars. However, Governor Moore confirmed that, according to the crew, there was a problem with the power on board. The live stream from a camera in the harbor shows how shortly before the collision almost all the lights on the ship go out. The first emergency calls were received around 1:30 a.m., they reported New York Times and CBS News, citing the Coast Guard and Fire Department.
There is no evidence of an attack. “The preliminary investigation indicates an accident. We have found no solid evidence of a terrorist attack,” said Governor Moore at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon Central European Time. A representative of the Federal Police FBI made a similar statement. There was no concrete or credible information to suggest the incident was related to terrorism, said investigator William DelBagno.
According to Moore, the crew of the container ship sent out an emergency signal shortly before the collision. This would have allowed officials to stop traffic to prevent more cars from getting onto the bridge.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott was also there and spoke of an “unimaginable tragedy.” Governor Moore declared a state of emergency. They are working together across teams so that they can now quickly request help from the US government, it said in a statement on Platform
The Interstate I-695 highway bridge crosses the Patapsco River and leads over the port of the metropolis in the northeast of the USA. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, it is more than 2.5 kilometers long, more than 50 meters high and has four lanes.
The aerial photo shows the extent of the disaster – large parts of the bridge have collapsed.
(Photo: ABC Affiliate Wjla/via Reuters)
The container ship with the name dali belongs to the shipping company Synery Marine Group and sails under the Singapore flag. The Danish shipping company Maersk, the world’s second largest container shipping company, said it had been chartered for a limited period of time. The approximately 290 meter long ship is said to have only set off half an hour before the collision and was on its way to Sri Lanka.
The crew of the ship is apparently still on board. The owner had previously announced that no crew member was missing on the ship and no injuries had been reported so far.
It is still unclear why the ship rammed the bridge. There is currently “absolutely no evidence” that the ship intentionally rammed the bridge, said Baltimore Police Chief Richard Worley.