Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse
The Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse was the March 26, 2024 destruction of a Baltimore highway bridge after the container ship Dali lost power and struck it, killing six workers and closing the Port of Baltimore's main channel.
What happened and why it matters
The Key Bridge collapse showed how a single accident can shut a major US port for weeks and force cargo onto other routes. Early on March 26, 2024, the Dali struck a bridge support and the span fell into the Patapsco River, killing six road workers. Crews removed about 50,000 tons of wreckage, refloated the ship on May 20, and the Army Corps of Engineers fully reopened the 700-foot-wide, 50-foot-deep channel on June 10, 2024. In the meantime, containers and vehicles were diverted to other East Coast ports, adding drayage and transit time. Port diversification plans should cover sudden closures as well as strikes.