Baltimore bridge collapse: Joe Biden praises SOS by Indian crew on ship that collided with bridge

Baltimore Bridge Collapses After Ship Rams Into Overpass

US President Joe Biden lauded the 22-member Indian crew aboard the freighter Dali for their prompt Mayday distress call, credited with saving many lives during the ship's collision with the Baltimore bridge.

The president also lauded the local authorities for their prompt action.

"Personnel on board the ship were able to alert the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of their vessel, as you all know and have reported.  As a result, local authorities were able to close the bridge to traffic before the bridge was struck, which undoubtedly saved lives," Biden said.

"We're incredibly grateful for the brave rescuers who immediately rushed to the scene," he added.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge is considered one of the busiest in the country.

The governor of Maryland Wes Moore called the Indian crew “heroes” for their prompt warning before the collision, which resulted in “saving many lives”.

The owners of Singapore-flagged container ship “Dali” that was involved in the incident said the vessel collided with a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore while under pilotage with two pilots on board. All crew members, including the two pilots, were located, and there were no reports of injuries.

One of the pilots said he did “everything that he could have done” to slow the ship and prevent it from drifting toward the bridge, the New York Post reported. This was revealed by Clay Diamond, executive director and general counsel of the American Pilots Association, who has been in close communication with the Association of Maryland Pilots since the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge.

The accident is likely to have a major impact on the region. Shipping activities may come to a halt for a few days because of all the debris lying around, while the traffic in Baltimore could get affected after the loss of the bridge.