In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a colossal container ship collided with a bridge in Baltimore harbor, causing the structure to collapse and plunging construction workers into the water below.
Search and rescue operations are currently underway for six individuals, as confirmed by officials. So far, two individuals have been rescued, one of whom is now in critical condition in the hospital.
The cargo ship, named Dali and flying under the Singapore flag, measures 984 feet in length and 157 feet in width, according to its VesselFinder listing. It is manned by a crew of 22, all hailing from India.
Setting sail from the Port of Baltimore at 1 a.m. on Tuesday, the Dali embarked on a 27-day voyage destined for Colombo, Sri Lanka. However, shortly after departure, the ship experienced a loss of propulsion, alerting Maryland officials to the potential for collision.
Upon realizing the loss of control, the crew immediately notified authorities, leading to the halting of traffic on the bridge. Synergy Group, in a statement to ABC News, confirmed the collision, noting that the ship was under the guidance of two local pilots at the time of the incident.
The aftermath of the collision has led to the closure of the waterway leading into and out of the port, effectively blocking the second busiest port in the Mid-Atlantic with no alternative routes available.
MarineTraffic, a maritime tracking company, pinpointed the collision to have occurred around 1:30 a.m. The Dali is owned by Singapore-based Grace Ocean, while its management falls under the Synergy Group.
Thankfully, all crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for without any reported injuries. Additionally, the collision has not resulted in any environmental pollution, according to the managing firm.
Previously chartered by the Danish shipping giant Maersk, the Dali had navigated through the Panama Canal to Newark, New Jersey, before making its way to Norfolk, Virginia, and ultimately arriving at the Port of Baltimore, as per company records.
Maersk expressed its horror over the incident in Baltimore, extending its thoughts to everyone impacted. The company is closely monitoring the ongoing investigations by authorities and Synergy, promising to keep its customers well-informed. Notably, no Maersk employees were on board the Dali.
This is not the Dali’s first incident; in 2016, the container ship collided with a quayside in Antwerp, Belgium, just a year after its construction, according to VesselFinder data.
This report includes contributions from ABC News’ Emily Shapiro, Aaron Katersky, Sam Sweeney, Laura Romero, and Helena Skinner.