by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

US federal investigators have revealed that the Maryland Transportation Authority did not complete a crucial vulnerability assessment that could have prevented the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Last year, a tragic accident caused the bridge to collapse after the containership Dali lost power and veered off course.

The ship hit one of its support piers, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and a months-long limitation of liability case.

One of the claims made by the shipping side is that the bridge's poor state, which dates back fifty years, contributed to its collapse. 

Jennifer Homendy, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chair, announced surprising information at a press conference last week.

Homendy stated that a vulnerability assessment shows the risk for Baltimore’s Key Bridge was nearly 30 times higher than the acceptable threshold.

The bridge owner did not perform the necessary assessments for the Key Bridge, which was opened in 1977 when ships were smaller, and pier protection standards were less stringent.

“The MDTA [Maryland Transportation Authority] would have known the risk and could have taken action to safeguard the Key Bridge. Had they done that, the collapse could have been prevented,” she said.

The NTSB further revealed that 68 bridges across the United States, including iconic structures like the Golden Gate and Brooklyn Bridge, are under the same risk.

“We have identified 72 bridges in 19 states managed by 30 bridge owners that were likely not designed and built to AASHTO specifications,” said Homendy.

The board recommended that these bridges undergo immediate vulnerability assessments to determine their risk of collapse if struck by a ship.

Stay ahead with the latest updates! Subscribe to our SeaNews newsletter for the most relevant information.