Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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Updated March 29, 2024
Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
At about 1:30 a.m. on March 26, 2024, the MV Dali, a
undocking) and rarely escort ships through harbors as an
container ship departing the Port of Baltimore, struck a
emergency safety measure. This ship released the tugs
support tower of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore,
before reaching the bridge as is reportedly normal in the
MD, causing the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River.
harbor.
The bridge is a segment of Interstate 695—Baltimore’s
beltway—and spans over the Patapsco shipping channel
How Will Port Traffic Be Affected?
into the harbor.
The Port of Baltimore was the 17th busiest port by total
tonnage in the United States in 2021, the most recent year
A pothole repair crew of eight was on the bridge at the time
for which data are available. It was the 10th busiest by dry
of the collision. Two have survived; one with injuries.
bulk tonnage and the 15th busiest container port in TEUs.
Authorities were able to stop traffic over the bridge right
According to the Maryland Port Administration, the port
before the vessel strike. There were 23 mariners aboard the
ranks first among the nation’s ports for autos and light truck
ship and none sustained injury. A Unified Command and
volume, roll on/roll off farm and construction machinery,
Joint Information Center have been established by the U.S.
and imported gypsum. It is also responsible for nearly $3.3
Coast Guard and Maryland state officials to coordinate
billion in personal wages and salaries, $2.6 billion in
response and disseminate information on the incident.
business revenue, and nearly $400 million in state and local
tax revenue annually.
Who Owns and Controls the Ship?
The Dali is being chartered (leased) by Maersk, a Danish
Containers currently at the port awaiting export could be
shipping firm that provides container shipping services
moved to other ports by truck or rail; one of the Port of
worldwide in addition to other types of shipping. The ship
Baltimore’s two container terminals is served by on-dock
is managed by the Synergy Marine Group and owned by
rail access. Dry bulk—such as coal, the largest commodity
Grace Ocean Private Ltd., both based in Singapore. The
by volume handled by the port—and roll on/roll off may be
ship’s crew are from India. It is flagged and homeported in
more difficult to move through other ports, as specialized
Singapore and was “classed” (meaning certified as meeting
facilities are needed for loading and unloading. The closest
construction and maintenance standards) by a Japanese
large ports to Baltimore are Wilmington, DE; Philadelphia,
firm, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (Class NK). The multitude of
PA; and Camden, NJ, all of which may be accessed via the
nationalities involved in operating and administering the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal provided the vessels have
ship is typical of the industry.
a shallow enough draft. Another nearby port, not draft
restricted, is the port of Norfolk near the entrance to
The ship was built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in
Chesapeake Bay.
South Korea (IMO identification number 9697428) with a
MAN-manufactured engine. It is almost 950 feet in length
Currently, commercial vessels are unable to enter or exit the
and about 160 feet in breadth with a capacity to carry
Port of Baltimore. Also, the U.S. Coast Guard shipyard at
10,000 TEUs of containers (a TEU is a 20-foot container).
Hawkins Point on Curtis Bay is upriver from the bridge,
It could be considered an average-sized container ship
and six vessels of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s
today but would be considered a large ship compared with
Ready Reserve Force (available to provide surge sealift
the fleet in the late 1970s when the bridge was built. The
capacity to the Department of Defense, if needed) were
ship had sailed from Asia through the Panama Canal and
berthed in Baltimore as of January 2024 and presumably
had called at Norfolk and New York before its Baltimore
are currently unable to exit the port.
port call. When it struck the bridge, the ship was departing
Baltimore for Sri Lanka.
How Will Road Traffic Be Affected?
The Key Bridge first opened to traffic in 1977, spanning the
How Do Ships Navigate Through
Patapsco River connecting Interstate 695 on the
Harbors?
southeastern side of Baltimore (see Figure 1). It had annual
A preliminary report stated that the ship lost power as it
average daily traffic over 30,000 vehicles in 2023,
was approaching the bridge, meaning the ship may have
including over 3,000 trucks per day. It was less heavily
lost propulsion. Two Baltimore harbor pilots were aboard
used than the Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor Tunnels
the ship; harbor pilots navigate ships in and out of harbors
running under the Patapsco River further north.
because they have expertise with local navigation
conditions. Even when harbor pilots are at the helm, the
Highway traffic could be rerouted through the Baltimore
captain of the ship and the shipping line (Maersk) remain
Harbor or Fort McHenry Tunnels or on Interstate 695 to the
responsible for the safety of the vessel. Tugs typically assist
north of Baltimore City. Some larger vehicles, including all
in moving ships into and out of their berths (docking and
double-trailers, and most shipments of hazardous materials
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Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
are not permitted in the tunnels, and trucks are not allowed
50-foot-depth navigation channel, initially using existing
through the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel.
USACE Baltimore Harbor and Channels project funds. No
timeline or cost estimate for clearing the federal channel is
Figure 1. Map of Baltimore Transportation Facilities
currently available. USACE anticipates employing both
federal and contracted assets and expertise (e.g., U.S. Navy
Supervisor of Salvage and Diving team and heavy-lift
cranes).
What Is the Federal Government’s Role
in Rebuilding the Bridge?
Rebuilding the Key Bridge would require permits from
federal agencies, and these authorizations would normally
require review under the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA). However, replacement of a damaged or
destroyed bridge may be granted a “categorical exclusion”
(CE) exempting it from further NEPA reviews if certain
conditions are met. To qualify for a CE, work must begin
within two years of an emergency declaration and occur
“within the existing right-of-way and in a manner that
substantially conforms to the preexisting design, function,
and location as the original (which may include upgrades to
Source: Created by CRS using data from the U.S. Census Bureau
meet existing codes and standards as well as upgrades
and ESRI.
warranted to address conditions that have changed since the
Notes: The Fort McHenry and Baltimore Harbor Tunnels are
original construction).”
marked in brown on the map, and the location of the Key Bridge is
marked in red. The Key Bridge location is in line with the
After the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed in 2007, a
southeastern edge of Interstate 695.
new bridge was completed in 11 months, which was 3
months ahead of schedule. The Federal Highway
Has Anything Like This Happened
Administration (FHWA) credits a project scope that
Before?
qualified for a CE with accelerating project delivery. A new
In May 1980, the bulk freighter MV Summit Venture struck
Sunshine Skyway Bridge took five years to complete, but
a support column of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in
traffic could resume at reduced capacity on a parallel span
Tampa, FL, causing a large portion of the bridge span to
that did not collapse.
collapse and resulting in 35 fatalities. Federal investigators
concluded that the probable cause of the collision was
Federal funding may also be available for bridge
unexpectedly sudden and severe weather. Other bridges
replacement. FHWA’s Emergency Relief (ER) Program
have collapsed, leading to disruptions in maritime and
receives approximately $100 million per year from the
highway transportation as well. The Tampa incident led to
Highway Trust Fund. Congress has periodically provided
the publication of new bridge design guidance for
additional funds to respond to specific incidents. Any
withstanding vessel impacts, but it is not yet known
damages or insurance payouts recouped by a bridge owner
whether the Key Bridge—built before this guidance
would be used to offset any ER funds awarded. Before
existed—could have withstood the Dali’s impact even if it
submitting a standard ER application, state transportation
conformed to current design best practices.
officials can submit a streamlined application for “Quick
Release” funds to cover emergency operations; the state of
What Immediate Actions Can the
Maryland has applied for and received $60 million in such
Federal Government Take?
funds.
The U.S. Coast Guard shares responsibilities with the
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to
Under the ER Program, federal funds can cover 90% of
investigate major safety incidents. Under the NTSB’s
project costs for interstate highways and 80% for other
governing statutes and regulations, the agency shall
federal-aid highways. Although the Key Bridge is a
investigate any “major marine casualty,” defined as one that
segment of Interstate 695, the portion that includes the
results in the loss of six or more lives, the loss of a vessel
bridge is a state highway, so the maximum federal share
larger than 100 gross tons, property damage initially
could be 80%. However, if the total expenses Maryland
estimated as at least $0.5 million, or a release of hazardous
incurs to deal with disaster-damaged roads in FY2024
materials deemed to be a serious threat. The U.S. Coast
exceed the state’s total federal-aid highway formula funds
Guard is directed to conduct a preliminary investigation to
($828,287,771 for FY2024), the maximum federal share
determine whether a major marine casualty event has
could increase to 90%. In the past, Congress has made
occurred and notify the NTSB accordingly. The NTSB has
exceptions allowing ER funds to cover 100% of costs for
stated it will take 12 to 24 months to fully investigate this
specific projects, as it did for the I-35W bridge project (see
incident and has released an initial timeline of the incident.
P.L. 110-56).
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is managing
John Frittelli, Specialist in Transportation Policy
bridge debris removal for the congressionally authorized
Ben Goldman, Analyst in Transportation Policy
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Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

IF12619
Ali E. Lohman, Analyst in Transportation Policy

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