It Took Just One Loose Wire to Bring Down a Bridge

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A single loose signal wire on the 984-foot containership Dali triggered a chain of electrical failures that culminated in the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as reported in a meeting at NTSB headquarters earlier this month, the improperly installed wire prevented a secure connection within a terminal block, resulting in two blackouts that disabled both propulsion and steering just prior to the vessel striking a bridge pier.

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Investigators also faulted the Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) for failing to conduct a vulnerability study recommended years earlier—one that might have led to structural safeguards capable of deterring or mitigating such a collision. Additionally, delays in alerting bridge workers about the vessel’s loss of control severely limited escape time.

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Beyond the tragic loss of six workers, the incident exposed a broader supply-chain risk: the collapse blocked the port’s main channel and disrupted operations for weeks. With rebuilding costs now expected to top $4 billion, and completion delayed to 2030, industry stakeholders are facing renewed pressure to integrate electrical system oversight, ship-strike defenses, and real-time communication protocols into existing frameworks.

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A single loose wire—not a catastrophic shipping error—triggered a logistics and infrastructure-level shutdown, proving that even seemingly minor failures can cascade into major risk events across global trade networks.

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Read More at Marine Log