SINGAPORE: The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said on Tuesday (Mar 26) it would investigate the collision of a Singapore-registered vessel with a major bridge in the United States.
The container ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, at about 1.30am (1.30pm Singapore time), causing the bridge to collapse.
Up to 20 people as well as multiple vehicles may have fallen in to the water, according to the Baltimore Fire Department.
"MPA is in contact with the US Coast Guard and the ship management company to provide the necessary assistance," said the authority.
"As the flag state, MPA will provide full cooperation to the US Coast Guard in its investigations. MPA will also be investigating the incident.”
Ship tracking data showed that the Dali is registered with Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and the manager is Synergy Marine Group.
According to MPA, the Dali is a 95,000 gross tonnage container vessel operating with 22 crew members onboard at the time of the incident.
Synergy Marine Corp said the ship’s crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.
The ship had been chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk at the time of the accident.
File photo of the Singapore-flagged Dali container ship. (Photo: MarineTraffic/Rene Henri Rosseel)
As the Dali’s flag state, Singapore has the responsibility of conducting an inquiry into the Baltimore accident.
Under Article 94 of the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea, a vessel’s flag state also has the responsibility of taking measures to ensure the safety of the ship through their construction, equipment and seaworthiness.
A vessel is bound by the laws and regulatory requirements of the flag state, which is responsible for the enforcement of standards.
Maritime experts say it is not uncommon for vessels to fly the flag of one country even while their owners are based in another country.
Singapore is among the world’s largest ship registries with more than 4,400 ships, according to MPA’s website.
Despite the responsibilities, a flag state does not usually bear any liability in accidents such as the one in Baltimore.
The liability for losses to cargo or damage to the environment will likely fall on the Dali's owners and, depending on the evidence, may be covered by the ship’s insurers.
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The container ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, at about 1.30am (1.30pm Singapore time), causing the bridge to collapse.
Up to 20 people as well as multiple vehicles may have fallen in to the water, according to the Baltimore Fire Department.
"MPA is in contact with the US Coast Guard and the ship management company to provide the necessary assistance," said the authority.
"As the flag state, MPA will provide full cooperation to the US Coast Guard in its investigations. MPA will also be investigating the incident.”
Ship tracking data showed that the Dali is registered with Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and the manager is Synergy Marine Group.
According to MPA, the Dali is a 95,000 gross tonnage container vessel operating with 22 crew members onboard at the time of the incident.
Synergy Marine Corp said the ship’s crew members, including the two pilots, have been accounted for and there were no reports of any injuries.
The ship had been chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk at the time of the accident.
File photo of the Singapore-flagged Dali container ship. (Photo: MarineTraffic/Rene Henri Rosseel)
As the Dali’s flag state, Singapore has the responsibility of conducting an inquiry into the Baltimore accident.
Under Article 94 of the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea, a vessel’s flag state also has the responsibility of taking measures to ensure the safety of the ship through their construction, equipment and seaworthiness.
A vessel is bound by the laws and regulatory requirements of the flag state, which is responsible for the enforcement of standards.
Maritime experts say it is not uncommon for vessels to fly the flag of one country even while their owners are based in another country.
Singapore is among the world’s largest ship registries with more than 4,400 ships, according to MPA’s website.
Despite the responsibilities, a flag state does not usually bear any liability in accidents such as the one in Baltimore.
The liability for losses to cargo or damage to the environment will likely fall on the Dali's owners and, depending on the evidence, may be covered by the ship’s insurers.
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