Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Nov 19: In a hard-hitting alert with nationwide implications, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has warned that disasters similar to the catastrophic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse could occur across the United States if critical safety recommendations are not urgently implemented.
The caution comes after the NTSB issued 17 new safety directives, aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2024 tragedy, in which the massive cargo vessel Dali lost power and rammed a support pier — collapsing the bridge and claiming six lives.
Investigators revealed that the 984-foot container ship suffered a 58-second blackout, triggered by a wrongly placed label during the vessel’s construction — a single mislabelled wire that prevented proper electrical connection.
“This loose wire among thousands was like finding a missing bolt in the Eiffel Tower,” NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said, explaining the complexity faced by the crew.
After power briefly returned, a second blackout struck due to a fuel supply interruption. The backup pump needed to restart the system required a manual reset two decks down in near-total darkness — a task impossible to perform in the time available as the vessel drifted dangerously toward the bridge.
The board has recommended sweeping changes, including:
• Thermal imaging systems to detect faulty wiring
• Ensuring correct pump usage and preventing automatic engine shutdowns
• New standards for wire labelling
• Improved ship data-recording systems
• Emergency bridge-crossing warning systems for motorists
NTSB Chair Homendy stressed the urgency:
“We’ve issued the safety recommendations; now they must be implemented. That’s the next step.”
Despite receiving a satisfactory inspection rating in 2024, the Key Bridge had nearly 30 times the acceptable collapse risk when struck by a vessel — a vulnerability that authorities had never assessed.
The NTSB now wants risk evaluations on 68 major U.S. bridges, including:
• Golden Gate Bridge, California
• Brooklyn, Manhattan, George Washington & Verrazzano bridges, New York
• Walt Whitman & Ben Franklin, Pennsylvania
• Sunshine Skyway, Florida
• Mackinac Bridge, Michigan
Yet, Homendy warned that several of these structures remain unchecked even after earlier alerts.
A blame game has emerged:
• The Maryland Transportation Authority insists the collapse was caused entirely by the ship and its operators.
• The ship operator, Synergy Marine, acknowledged the NTSB’s findings but noted the pier’s vulnerability.
• Earlier this year, the ship’s owner and operator agreed to pay $102 million in a settlement with U.S. authorities over maintenance failures.
The NTSB’s report underscores that the Baltimore disaster was “entirely avoidable” — and unless immediate action is taken, similar tragedies could strike other critical bridges across America.
The investigation serves as a stark reminder: one mislabeled wire, one missed risk assessment, one outdated system — and a nation’s vital infrastructure can crumble in seconds.