26 Mar 202400:36 EDT
Dali begins leaving the dock
The NTSB said the Dali began maneuvering off the dock at about 0036 with the senior pilot at the conn and two tugs assisting.
Incident
How the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse unfolded
Early on March 26, 2024, the containership Dali lost electrical power leaving Baltimore and struck a pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed into the Patapsco River. Six highway workers on the bridge died. The NTSB traced the blackout to a loose wire connection and cited the bridge's lack of protection against ship strikes. The ship's owner and manager settled with the federal government and Maryland, and in May 2026 federal prosecutors indicted the manager companies and a technical superintendent, who are presumed innocent.
26 March 2024 to today · 23 dated events · 13 sources
Where it stands now · as of 31 October 2026
The federal criminal case against Synergy Marine, Synergy Maritime and the ship's technical superintendent is set for trial on October 4, 2027, and the charges remain allegations. The remaining civil claims, mainly economic loss, were postponed indefinitely in June 2026, and Maryland says it will pursue claims against shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Next date
4 October 2027 Scheduled start of the federal criminal trial
4 October 2027 Scheduled start of the federal criminal trial
deaths6highway workers on the bridge, per NTSB
people aboard the Dali23one minor injury
Maryland settlement$2.25 billionwith the Dali's owner and manager, 2026
replacement bridge estimate$4.3 to 5.2 billionper NTSB report
Overview · 26 Mar 2024 to 16 Jun 2026 · click a dot to jump
2024
26 Mar 202401:07 EDT
Tugboats released
The assisting tugs were let go at 0107 and 0108, according to the NTSB report.
26 Mar 202401:25 EDT
Turning point
First blackout
At 0125:00 the Dali lost low voltage power and its low voltage switchboard blacked out, causing a loss of steering and propulsion as it approached the bridge, the NTSB said.
26 Mar 202401:25 EDT
Pilot asks for bridge to be shut
At 0125:59 the senior pilot phoned the Association of Maryland Pilots dispatcher to have the Key Bridge shut down, the NTSB said.
26 Mar 202401:26 EDT
Tug assistance requested
The senior pilot requested tugboat assistance by radio at 0126:38. At 0126:44 the pilots' dispatcher called the Maryland Transportation Authority duty officer.
26 Mar 202401:27 EDT
Second blackout
The NTSB said the vessel lost power a second time at about 0127:04, two seconds after the senior pilot ordered the port anchor let go. A few seconds later the pilot in training made a securite call on VHF radio.
26 Mar 202401:27 EDT
Police told to close the bridge
The MDTA duty officer instructed officers stationed at either end of the bridge to stop traffic at 0127:53, according to the NTSB.
26 Mar 202401:28 EDT
Traffic stopped in both directions
At 0128:21 officers blocked traffic in both directions. The NTSB said the bridge was cleared of traffic about 48 seconds before the strike, but the highway work crew was not notified.
26 Mar 202401:29 EDT
Turning point
Dali strikes Pier 17
The NTSB said the Dali's starboard bow struck the northwest column of Pier 17 of the Key Bridge at 0129:09, at a speed of 6.4 knots.
26 Mar 202401:29 EDT
Turning point
Bridge collapses
Pier 17 collapsed at 0129:22, about 13 seconds after impact, and the main spans fell into the river. Six of the seven highway workers on the bridge died, one survived with serious injuries, and an inspector escaped unharmed.
10 Jun 2024
Federal channel fully reopened
The Army Corps of Engineers said the Fort McHenry Federal Channel was restored to 700 ft wide and 50 ft deep after about 50,000 tons of wreckage were removed.
“We are proud of the unified efforts that fully reopened the Federal Channel to port operations.”Lt. Gen. Scott Spellmon, USACE, US Army Corps of Engineers via DVIDS
24 Jun 2024
NTSB publishes investigative update
The NTSB published an investigative update on the Dali investigation.
Sep 2024
Maryland files claims in federal court
The State of Maryland filed civil claims against the ship's owner and manager in federal district court, alleging negligence and that the vessel was not seaworthy.
24 Oct 2024
Federal cleanup costs settled
Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine agreed to pay $102 million to resolve the Justice Department's claim for federal response and channel clearance costs, Reuters reported. The department had sought $103 million.
2025
20 Mar 2025
NTSB urges review of 68 bridges
The NTSB issued urgent recommendations that owners of 68 US bridges calculate their risk of collapse from vessel strikes and, if above the threshold, adopt risk reduction plans.
18 Nov 2025
Turning point
NTSB determines probable cause
The NTSB determined that a loose signal wire connection caused by improperly installed wire label banding led to the blackout. It cited limited recovery time, the bridge's lack of ship impact countermeasures and the absence of a warning to highway workers as contributing.
2026
Jan 2026
Limitation of liability defense allowed
Judge James K. Bredar denied a motion by Maryland and wrongful death claimants to block Synergy from invoking the 1851 Shipowners' Limitation of Liability Act, which could cap liability at the ship's stipulated value of $43.7 million.
9 Apr 2026
Maryland reaches agreement in principle
Maryland and the Dali's owner and manager announced an agreement in principle to settle the state's claims. The amount was not disclosed at the time.
12 May 2026
Maryland settlement finalized at $2.25 billion
Maryland finalized a $2.25 billion settlement with Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine on behalf of three state agencies. The Attorney General said the state would continue to pursue claims against shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries.
12 May 2026
Turning point
Ship managers and superintendent indicted
An 18 count indictment was unsealed against Synergy Marine, Synergy Maritime and the Dali's technical superintendent. Prosecutors allege a fuel supply modification contributed to the second blackout and that false statements were made to the NTSB. The defendants are presumed innocent and Synergy has said it will contest the charges.
1 Jun 2026
Civil trial postponed after most claims settle
Judge Bredar postponed the civil trial indefinitely with the agreement of the remaining parties. The companies said all but 11 of 54 claims, including all wrongful death claims, had been settled or dismissed.
15 Jun 2026
Chief engineer charged under deferral deal
Prosecutors filed a one count criminal information against the Dali's chief engineer for failing to report a hazardous condition, and the US attorney told the court the two sides had entered a deferred prosecution agreement, according to press reports.
16 Jun 2026
Criminal trial set for October 2027
At a hearing in the criminal case, Judge Bredar scheduled trial to begin on October 4, 2027, with proceedings expected to last about seven weeks, according to press reports. Defense lawyers had sought a January 2027 start.
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Sources
13 records, ranked by type- 1Official record18 Nov 2025Investigation DCA24MM031: Contact of Containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key BridgeNational Transportation Safety Board · ntsb.gov
- 2Official record18 Nov 2025Marine Investigation Report MIR-25-40: Contact of Containership Dali with Francis Scott Key BridgeNational Transportation Safety Board · ntsb.gov
- 3Government document10 Jun 2024U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces full restoration of Baltimore's Fort McHenry Federal ChannelUS Army Corps of Engineers via DVIDS · dvidshub.net
- 4News report24 Oct 2024Dali Owner to Pay US $102 Million Over Baltimore Bridge CollapseReuters via MarineLink · marinelink.com
- 5News report12 May 2026Maryland Announces $2.5 Billion Settlement Over Baltimore Bridge CollapseInsurance Journal · insurancejournal.com
- 6News report10 Apr 2026Maryland's settlement over Key Bridge could be millions or billionsWYPR · wypr.org
- 7Official record12 May 2026Foreign Operators and Technical Superintendent of M/V Dali Indicted for Roles in Key Bridge CrashUS Department of Justice · justice.gov
- 8Official record7 Jul 2026United States v. Synergy Marine Pte Ltd et al.US Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division · justice.gov
- 9News report1 Jun 2026Dali Civil Trial Delayed to Consider Legal Issue After Most Claims SettleThe Maritime Executive · maritime-executive.com
- 10Official record12 May 2026Attorney General Brown Announces Final Settlement with Owners and Operators of the MV Dali in Francis Scott Key Bridge CollapseMaryland Office of the Attorney General · oag.maryland.gov
- 11News report16 Jun 2026Federal Judge Sets 2027 Trial Date in Key Bridge Collapse CasePraise Baltimore · praisebaltimore.com
- 12News report16 Jun 2026DOJ brings new criminal charge in deadly Key Bridge collapse probeMinnesota Lawyer · minnlawyer.com
- 13News report16 Jun 2026Criminal trial set for October 2027 in Key Bridge collapseCBS News Baltimore · cbsnews.com
Last updated 31 October 2026. Spotted an error? See corrections. Every event links to the record it comes from. Allegations are attributed to whoever made them.