Loose Electrical Cable Found On Ship That Caused Key Bridge Collapse

BALTIMORE, MD — Investigators working to determine what caused the massive container ship Dali to crash into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge discovered a loose cable that may have caused electrical issues on the ship, according to new documents released this week.

When disconnected, the cable could have triggered an electrical blackout on the ship similar to what happened as it approached the bridge on March 26, according to the documents.

The documents did not include any analysis or conclusions, which will be released later in the board’s final report. The final National Transportation Safety Board report could take one or two years to complete.

The Key Bridge collapsed into the frigid Patapsco River in the early morning hours of March 26 after the cargo ship Dali lost power and slammed into one of the structure's support columns. The collision with the massive ship sent a span of the bridge plummeting into the river, blocking access to the harbor and halting most maritime traffic through the city’s port.

A road crew was on the bridge patching potholes on I-695 overnight when the collision happened. Six workers were killed, all of whom hailed from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.

Investigators released a preliminary report in June that documented two malfunctioning electrical breakers that caused an initial blackout aboard the Dali before it drifted off course and struck the bridge.

The Dali first experienced a power outage when it was still docked in Baltimore. That was after a crew member mistakenly closed an exhaust damper while conducting maintenance, causing one of the ship’s diesel engines to stall, according to the earlier report.

Crew members then made changes to the ship’s electrical configuration, switching from one transformer and breaker system — which had been in use for several months — to a second that was active upon its departure.

The second transformer and breaker system is where investigators found the loose cable, according to investigative reports.

Investigators also removed an electrical component from the same system for additional testing, according to a supplemental report released in June. They removed what is called a terminal block, which is used to connect electrical wires.

The Maryland Transportation Authority recently approved a $73 million contract to rebuild the bridge.

The rebuild project is slated to begin next year and the replacement bridge is expected to open by fall 2028, officials said. In all, the project is estimated to cost $1.7 billion and would include significantly more pier protection to better defend against future wayward ships.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read all of Patch's Key Bridge collapse coverage here.