On Tuesday morning, the Singapore cargo ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing a section of the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River. The incident raised questions about the role of tugboats in guiding ships through the harbor to prevent such accidents.
Tugboats are small vessels that assist larger ships by pushing or pulling them using direct contact or tow lines. Their primary purpose is to guide ships safely into and out of harbors, reducing the risk of collisions and incidents like the Baltimore bridge collapse.
According to reports, cargo ships entering and exiting the Baltimore harbor are typically accompanied by tugboats on each side, with a Chesapeake Bay pilot on board providing navigational assistance to the ship's crew. However, ship tracking data revealed that the Dali was heading towards the Key Bridge unaccompanied at the time of the crash.
Two tugboats, operated by McAllister Towing and Transportation, had assisted the Dali out of the dock earlier that morning but had left the cargo ship before the collision occurred. The tugboats, Eric McAllister and Bridget McAllister, were the first to respond after the Dali struck the bridge.
It is standard practice for tugboats to break away from ships before they reach bridges. In this case, the Dali lost power and propulsion shortly after the tugboats departed, leading to the tragic accident. The sequence of events highlights the critical role of tugboats in guiding ships safely through congested waterways and the potential risks when proper protocols are not followed.
