KRIS VAN CLEAVE:
00:00:22
The blackout that left the giant cargo ship Dali powerless and adrift on a collision course with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March of 2024 was likely caused by a loose wire. That's the key finding from the National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy.
JENNIFER HOMENDY:
00:00:38
I'd like to say it's like a needle in a haystack. It is so hard to find.
KRIS VAN CLEAVE:
00:00:43
Homendy says it took investigators weeks to pinpoint this loose wire, ultimately finding its label was covering the base of its connector, preventing it from being fully inserted and allowing it to ultimately shake loose, cutting off power and steering to the ship.
JENNIFER HOMENDY:
00:00:59
It was to fit right in here to ensure you had connection for the system.
KRIS VAN CLEAVE:
00:01:08
Investigators found the crew responded quickly to the blackout, but the ship was too close to the bridge to avert disaster. The quick communication with police to stop traffic likely saved lives, but six members of a work crew on the bridge were killed in the collapse. The safety board also found the bridge's lack of collision countermeasures, like those we saw being installed around the Delaware Memorial Bridge, contributed to its vulnerability in this collision. In all, the NTSB is issuing 17 safety recommendations aimed at preventing a similar tragedy. Maryland officials say a replacement bridge will cost upwards of $5 billion and could open by late 2030. For CBSMornings, I'm Kris Van Cleave.
