The destruction of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge is a shocking visual, even from miles away. A hunk of steel juts above the water like a metal iceberg. Twisted gray beams stick out in crooked positions. From a park near Fort McHenry, you can see the huge cargo ship that crashed into the bridge and remains in the wreckage.
But since Tuesday's accident, the remaining 22 Indian-origin crew members on the ship Dali have kept a low profile.
Little is known publicly about the men, other than that they were sailors aboard a 985-foot cargo ship bound for Sri Lanka with 4,700 shipping containers on board when the ship lost power and crashed on the Key Bridge. collided with. cause the structure to collapse.
The crew has been thrust into an unexpected spotlight since the accident that killed six construction workers. While keeping the ship operational, they have received a huge amount of attention from officials investigating the nighttime catastrophe, as evidence of what happened lies among the destroyed ruins spread across the bow and deck. answers the questions.
While authorities investigate the cause of the tragedy, new questions emerged this week. What is the crew going through now with limited access to the outside world?
“They must be feeling the weight of responsibility for not being able to prevent this from happening,” said Joshua Messick, executive director of the Baltimore International Seafarers Center, a religious nonprofit that works to protect the rights of seafarers.
Still, officials praised the crew's quick mayday message radioed when the ship lost power on Tuesday. Authorities say the mayday call likely saved many lives by allowing officers to stop traffic heading to the bridge before the Dali, which was traveling at 8 knots, crashed into the bridge. Stated.
The ship is stuck in the Port of Baltimore, potentially for weeks, and the lives of the crew members are in a state of uncertainty. But one thing is for certain: they won't be sailing the waters around South Africa to their destination of Sri Lanka anytime soon.
But they have no intention of docking in port right away, as they must wait for enough debris to be removed to free the ship and resume its route to one of the busiest ports in the United States. do not have. Maryland's governor said Saturday that authorities plan to remove the first portion of the debris.
Therefore, at this time, the crew is likely working on a grueling schedule to maintain the ship similar to what it would be at sea. But the difference, experts say, is that they are stuck because the eyes of the world are on them.
“The captain and crew have a duty to the ship,” said Stephen Fraley, a partner at Pacific Maritime Group, which helps with marine salvage and shipwreck removal.
Chris James, who works for a consulting firm that supports the ship's management company, Synergy Marine, said the crew had enough food and water, as well as enough fuel to run the generators. In fact, when Jennifer Homendy, chairwoman of the National Transportation Safety Board, was on board this week, she observed the cooks cooking. “It smelled so good,” she said.
But there is still no exact schedule for when the ship will be pulled from the wreckage, James said. Once the NTSB and Coast Guard complete their investigation, “we will look at the possibility of replacing and repatriating the crew,” he said.
India is one of the world's largest hubs for seafarers, said John A. Conrad, captain and CEO of gCaptain, a maritime and offshore industry news site. Conrad said Indian captains and engineers are paid less than their American counterparts, but they can earn a decent living if they work at sea for at least three months of the year.
According to him, working on a cargo ship is a 24-hour ordeal with no weekend days off. Every day, deck maintenance and safety are checked, cooks and cleaners serve other sailors, and engine room workers keep things on track.
However, cargo ship crew members can enjoy leisurely activities on board, such as video game breaks in their cabins, gym workouts, table tennis sessions, and movie nights. Dali's crew has at least a television, magazines and books on board, said Andrew Middleton, who runs Apostle Ships of the Sea, a program that serves sailors passing through port.
Kristan Joy Sequeira, an Indian seafarer who was not on board the Dali but arrived in Baltimore on Friday from another cargo ship, said in an interview that he was concerned about the impact the bridge collapse would have on his industry and country. He said he is doing so.
“I'm worried that my international image will be damaged because this crew member is Indian. I might even lose my job,” said Sequeira, 31.
Some in the Baltimore port community have had some contact with Dali's crew, albeit briefly, through third parties and WhatsApp. Messick said he sent two Wi-Fi hotspots to the crew on Friday because there was no internet on board.
Middleton said he remained in touch with the two crew members and reminded them that “we are here for them.”
“When you ask them how they're doing, the answers range from 'good' to 'excellent,'” he says. “So, by their own account, they're fine.”
Messick said he also sent care packages to the crew through a salvage company assisting with the work. Inside the package was candy from local officials, homemade muffins, and thank you cards from the children.
With many questions still unanswered about the crew's next steps, Messick said he wants to provide them with trauma care and psychological support. On Friday he wrote a letter to the captain, which was delivered on another ship.
“We are here to support you,” it read.