Containership Dali to Depart for China for Extensive Repairs

The Dali containership, which struck and severely damaged the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore nearly six months ago, is preparing to leave its repair facility in Norfolk, Virginia, with plans to head to China in the coming weeks.

This information comes from court filings reported by the Baltimore Sun newspaper. Once in China, the ship is expected to undergo significant repairs, which will likely include the replacement of its bow.

In response to the incident, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last month that could require the owners of the Dali to pay up to 10 times the amount for the damage caused when the vessel collided with the bridge.

In May, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on the fatal collision involving the Dali and Baltimore’s largest bridge.

According to federal investigators, the ship, managed by Synergy Group and chartered by Maersk, experienced electrical blackouts about 10 hours before departing the Port of Baltimore and again shortly before it crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26. Tragically, the incident resulted in the deaths of six construction workers.