The FBI has has opened a criminal investigation into the container ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last month, causing it to collapse and killing six road construction crew members.
As The Washington Post reports, multiple federal agents were seen boarding the freighter Dali early Monday morning, April 15. The investigation will reportedly focus on the indication until the ship left the port of Baltimore and whether the crew knew there were problems with the ship's systems before the crash.
The criminal investigation comes after a separate investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which is looking into what caused the crash and other safety issues. What is currently known is that the Dali suffered a total blackout, losing both engine and electrical power, which prevented the crew from using its control and communications systems.
Thanks to a backup generator, the pilot was able to issue a Mayday warning over the radio that allowed first responders to shut down vehicular traffic on the bridge. But the pilot was unable to slow the ship down and eventually crashed into a support pillar, causing the entire bridge to collapse.
In a statement shared with Rolling rock, the FBI said only that “federal agents are conducting a court-authorized investigation of Daly.” No further details were given.
The U.S. attorney for Maryland, Eric L. Barron, was similarly tight-lipped: “My office generally will not confirm the existence or otherwise comment on investigations,” he said. “However, the public should know, whether it's gun violence, a violation of civil rights, financial fraud or any other threat to public safety or property, we will seek accountability for anyone who may be responsible.”
Along with the FBI investigation, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said that the city had cooperated with two law firms in an effort to hold those responsible for the crash accountable. “We continue to do everything we can to support everyone affected here, and we will continue to recognize the human impact this event has had,” Scott said. “Part of that job must be to seek redress from those who may be responsible, and with the ship owner filing to limit liability just days after the incident, we must act just as quickly to protect the city's interests ».
The Dali was registered in Singapore and owned and operated by two Singaporean companies, Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Group. Earlier this month, per CBSlegal representatives for the two companies filed a preliminary injunction in US District Court in Baltimore seeking to limit their liability in the crash.
from our partners at https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/fbi-criminal-investigation-baltimore-bridge-collapse-1235004552/