February 28, 2025

Jessica A. Dennehy

11th Grade

Williamsville East High School

Almost a year ago, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after a cargo ship struck one of its key support columns. Six construction workers perished in the Baltimore Bridge Incident, with the disaster additionally hindering maritime trade into and out of the Port of Baltimore. The cargo ship in question, the 213-million-pound MV Dali, was bound for Sri Lanka when it lost both engine and electrical power. Only by understanding the engineering flaws—both within the ship's systems and the bridge's structural defenses—is it possible to prevent similar failures from happening in the future.

The MV Dali's collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge was the result of a number of engineering and technological failures aboard. Later investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the vessel had experienced two significant power outages just moments before impact. Triggered by the tripping of two critical circuit breakers, these electrical failures shut down the pumps responsible for controlling the ship's primary means of navigation—the ship’s sole propeller and rudder. Even with its emergency generator quickly restoring power, the ship's electrical infrastructure wasn't configured to restore power to these particular navigation systems—rendering the vessel completely helpless. With these power failures only occurring three lengths away from the bridge, the vessel’s inertia continued to propel it forward. With this tragic demonstration of Newton’s First Law of Motion—an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an external force—the MV Dali was set on a collision course with disaster.

Despite the pressing nature of these power outages, prior electrical failures aboard the MV Dali were left unreported—including those from earlier that day. While the MV Dali was still moored in the Port of Baltimore, the vessel suffered two blackouts—one attributed to crew error and the other from systemic issues within the ship’s electrical infrastructure. A later investigation identified the probable cause of the systematic power failures to be a loose wire—a stray bit of metal was responsible for six deaths and the collapse of a major trade route. Records dating as far back as the spring of 2023 have indicated that there was a history of persistent electrical and mechanical issues aboard the ship. Disgusted by the preventable nature of this tragedy, the U.S. Department of Justice had resultantly filed a lawsuit against the ship’s owner, Grace Ocean Private Ltd., and manager, Synergy Marine Group, alleging gross negligence and mismanagement.

The March 26th collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge additionally highlighted the structural faults of the bridge's design and protective defenses. The bridge, a continuous truss built in 1977, featured protective structures, including concrete “dolphins” and fender systems about 100 meters upstream and downstream of its support piers; however, these defenses were never intended to withstand a collision from a modern cargo vessel. Over the past 50 years, maritime trade has boomed, with the weight and size of cargo ships reflecting the industry's growth. So when the structural defenses of older bridges do not respond to these advancements, the original purpose of absorbing or redirecting ship impacts is mitigated, as modern challenges begin to far exceed the design parameters and intended purposes of time structures. Beyond the design limitations of the Key Bridge's protective defenses, the age of the bridge may also have made it more susceptible to total collapse. The bridge is almost 50 years old, with its aging infrastructure susceptible to material fatigue, corrosion, and general wear, potentially further reducing its structural integrity if it is not properly maintained or reinforced. So when the MV Dali, weighing over 213 million pounds, struck one of the bridge’s support piers, the bridge’s dated design and age made it structurally vulnerable to such an impact.

As rebuilding efforts begin, this event presents an opportunity to apply lessons in engineering and safety to create more resilient infrastructure. By combining modern materials, better technology, and updated safety protocols, both future ships and bridges can be better designed to withstand evolving challenges. From enhanced ship monitoring and emergency response systems to stronger impact-resistant structures and improved protective barriers, there's room for improvement on all fronts to best ensure both structural integrity and long-term reliability.