The FBI opens a criminal investigation of the container ship Dali. The Francis Scott Key bridge was brought down when the Dali went off course, leaving the harbor, and crashed into the bridge’s pillar, collapsing. Six individuals were on the bridge, two bodies recovered, and the other four are presumed dead.
The Associated Press reports that a person familiar with the incident and who wishes to remain anonymous is discussing this new criminal investigation with them.
BREAKING: The FBI is investigating whether there was any criminal wrongdoing in the deadly crash that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in March, according to sources familiar with the matter. https://t.co/1d84d07GYJ pic.twitter.com/Tv08jhwBl3
— ABC News (@ABC) April 15, 2024
The news of the ship crashing into the Key Bridge came early on the morning of March 26th, and Victory Girl Nina gave us all the details of when it happened.
The video of the ship crashing into the bridge was on a loop for several days. The ship lost power minutes before it strayed off the channel course and hit the bridge’s pillar.
And now we have a criminal investigation weeks later.
The person was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
The FBI was present aboard the cargo ship Dali conducting court authorized law enforcement activity, the agency said in a statement Monday.
The investigation was first reported by The Washington Post.
And on Monday, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced a partnership with two law firms to “launch legal action to hold the wrongdoers responsible” and mitigate harm to city residents. – Associated Press
Just two weeks ago, the FBI agent in charge, William J. DelBagno, came out just hours after the bridge collapsed and, within the first minute of speaking, announced this was unequivocally NOT terrorism.
Whether or not this new criminal investigation will reveal is yet to be determined. It was just announced this morning that the investigation was happening.
Since the crash and before this morning, the media reported the Dali container ship had deficiencies reported in 2016.
The ship was also given a “deficiency” for “structural conditions” described as “hull damage impairing seaworthiness” following a 2016 collision while leaving the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, in 2016.
Port authorities confirmed to CNN that the Dali cargo ship was also involved in an “incident” in Belgium in 2016.
According to the maritime incident archive Shipwrecklog, the Dali was attempting to leave the container terminal to head to Bremerhaven, Germany, when its bow reportedly swung around, causing the stern to scrape the side of the quay and damaging several yards of the hull.
The container ship was last inspected on Sept. 9, 2023, by the US Coast Guard in New York. No deficiencies were reported at the time, according to Equasis. – New York Post
The news this morning is that the FBI criminal investigation will look at whether or not the crew left the port knowing that the ship had systems problems, according to the Washington Post.
FBI agents boarded the ship at sunrise this morning. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott hired two law firms and pledged to prosecute criminal wrongdoing.
It’s interesting that now they want to investigate for criminal behavior. Maybe they just needed more time to decide if they could pursue criminal charges or not. So, here we are.
Feature Photo Credit: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scott says: Well, the Feebies are generally incompetent, unless they’re protecting dems, and the mayor is a racist putz, soooo……
Cameron says: The person was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity to The Associated Press.
Maybe I’m old fashioned but my reaction is “Then shut your mouth and don’t talk to the press!” Why is this so tough to understand?
GWB says: when the Dali went off course…
Better said,
when the Dali lost propulsion and power, went off course…
Six individuals were on the bridge, two bodies recovered, and the other four are presumed dead.
I do not believe this is anywhere near accurate. There were vehicles on the bridge, too – with people in them. The initial claim of 8 “known” was based on a construction crew on the bridge, where two survived and the rest died (though I do not know how many have been recovered from those 6 – perhaps it is 4). I am certain they’ve pulled two bodies from cars by this date.
Whether or not this new criminal investigation will reveal is yet to be determined.
And the investigation doesn’t have to have anything to do with terrorism. There are plenty of other criminal charges that could be brought, including negligence. Though, I’m not sure (other than federal jurisdictional bloat) why the FBI would have any play in it, instead of the Coast Guard and such.
It’s interesting that now they want to investigate for criminal behavior.
Why? Most everyone I knew who is involved with ports and ships thought there was likely willful criminal negligence in deciding to get to sea and having the engines fail so early. This will be a bog standard investigation of a sub-standard crew, and it will result in the company paying BIG bucks, the captain losing his license forever, possibly some of the crew losing their jobs, those individuals getting sued by victims’ families, possibly the company losing their insurance, the bridge not being rebuilt in a timely fashion, and a bunch of people still dead but having really nice coffins because of the settlements from the shipping company.
3 Comments