Container Ship That Hit Bridge in Baltimore Had Earlier Collision in Antwerp

The massive container ship that smashed into a high-traffic bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, this morning had previously collided with infrastructure while docking, according to reports.

Container ship DALI collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, collapsing a portion of the bridge and resulting in what authorities suspect is a mass casualty event.

According to previous reports, this is not the first time DALI has struck city infrastructure while transporting goods — a similar but far less serious incident was reported in 2016, according to contemporaneous reports.

Aerial daytime photos of the steel frame of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on top of a cargo ship in Baltimore, Maryland. (Fox News)

Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace said at least two people were pulled from the water following the collapse, with one of them in serious condition.

Wallace said authorities “may be looking for upwards of seven people” but he said that number could change.

The vessel that struck the bridge was a Singapore-flagged cargo ship. The large vessel then caught fire before becoming disabled.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, a major span over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, collapsed after it was struck by a large cargo ship on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, prompting a massive emergency response for multiple people in the water. The Baltimore City Fire Department described the collapse as a mass-casualty incident. (Jasper Colt-USA Today)

Footage of the incident shows the lights going out multiple times on the vessel in question prior to impact, suggesting the collision may have been due to a power failure.

The Maryland Transportation Authority said on social media that all lanes are closed in both directions and that traffic is being detoured. Later, it urged drivers to avoid the I-695 southeast corridor and to instead use I-95 or I-895.

Mayor Brandon M. Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. confirmed emergency personnel were responding, and rescue efforts were underway.

Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion, Anders Hagstrom, and Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.