On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at approximately 130 a.m., the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, was struck by a cargo ship and completely collapsed into the water below. At the time of the collapse, eight workers were on the bridge filling potholes and were plunged into the water. Two were rescued and brought to the hospital, and the National Guard immediately started a search and rescue effort for the other six workers. However, by mid-morning, the search was called off because officials determined that with the frigid temperatures, the workers would not have been able to survive, the national guard has started their search and recovery now, but the water is murky and full of debris making it difficult for divers to see infront of them. Initially, it was thought that the only casualties were the workers from the bridge because there was no vehicle traffic at the time, yet, it was discovered Thursday that a large vehicle is underwater, trapped by concrete and metal debris.

The ship that crashed into the bridge was the DALI, a Singaporean ship that has been in commission since 2015. The ship left the Baltimore port around 1 am and was bound for Sri Lanka. There were 22 crew members aboard the ship, including one pilot and his apprentice. Shortly before the accident, a mayday call from the dali was heard; they called for technical issues, a blackout, which was corroborated by the black smoke from the ship in footage of the crash. There were flickering lights, but officials say the backup generator was likely kicking in and would not have allowed the ship to move away from the bridge in time. Because of the Mayday call, officials were able to stop the flow of traffic onto the bridge but could not get the workers off in time, which was why it was believed no vehicles had been sent underwater in the crash. Because of the ship’s foreign belongings and the crew being from India, claims of terrorism were the first thought, but those claims have been refuted, and it was announced that it was a tragic accident. Before the crash, the ship had undergone 27 inspections, most recently in New York, where no issues were reported. However, in June of last year, the ship was inspected on the coast of Chile, and the inspection brought results that said the ship had a problem with the “propulsion and artillery machine.” The ship continued to sail and, until this week, had no outstanding issues.

The crash has brought up many concerns over the import and export businesses and the fear of water pollution. The ship was carrying hazardous materials, but officials said there was no need to worry, and they were secure. The more significant issue is the economic costs the collapse will reap. Baltimore Port is one of the United States’ largest ports and the largest for incoming agricultural and construction equipment. It’s peak farming season in the Midwest, where most of the United States agricultural food and products come from. Now that ships holding these materials have been rerouted, other ports are overwhelmed, and the equipment will be at a higher cost and take more time. Besides directing water traffic to ports in Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania, the products and shipments already at the ports will be transported on trucks. However, with the bridge’s collapse, routes will be longer, traffic will increase, and one product will not be able to be transported. Biodiesel fuel, currently being held in vessels at the Baltimore port, has no current way out; biodiesel fuels, per regulation, are not allowed to be transported through tunnels, and with no way in or out of the port at Baltimore, they are stuck. Eighty billion dollars worth of products pass through Baltimore each day. With truck transportation, an extra 20 billion a day will have to be used, causing prices to rise and wait times to increase. All search efforts must cease before Baltimore can rebuild a bridge, and water conditions must be optimal. Biden has announced that the federal government intended to pay fully for the bridge, and insurance money from the boat should be added to the payment.

The bridge collapse may not significantly change everyday life in the United States, but agriculture centers in the Midwest will be affected, as will many states and cities calling for action to test their bridges in case of another accident. The families affected by the lives lost will forever have a hole in their lives from this horrible accident.