Baltimore [USA], Three months after the freighter MV Dali lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore, eight crew members left for India with only a handful of crew members on board.
There were 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan on the ship since March 26, when the 984-foot ship lost propulsion, veered off course and destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Six construction workers who were on the bridge died in the incident, which remains the focus of two investigations by the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board.
On Wednesday, the city of Baltimore filed a motion asking to keep the crew members in the country. But later Thursday, after a court hearing, a judge approved the deal that would allow eight Indians to return home by plane. The eight eligible crew members do not include any officers.
These include a cook, a fitter, an oiler and several sailors. The eight members who will arrive in India shortly were allowed to leave the United States after an agreement that guaranteed they could conduct interviews related to the lawsuit. The remaining crew members, including all of the ship's officers, will have to remain in the United States until litigation related to the accident is completed, which could take more than a year.
The ship is tentatively scheduled to depart Friday night for Norfolk, Virginia, according to a person familiar with developments. The 13 crew members, mostly Indians, will remain in the United States indefinitely and will be moved to service apartments in Baltimore, a source told ANI.
The four-member crew will remain on board for the duration of the voyage and will return to the service apartments at some point.
While none of the crew members have been charged in connection with the disaster, investigations are underway to determine who could be responsible. The mayor of Baltimore has announced legal action to "hold wrongdoers accountable."
In March, the transport ship named Dali lost power as she left Baltimore Harbor for Sri Lanka and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing her to collapse.
On April 5, US President Joe Biden visited the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and promised to "move heaven and earth" to rebuild the structure.
There were 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan on the ship since March 26, when the 984-foot ship lost propulsion, veered off course and destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. Six construction workers who were on the bridge died in the incident, which remains the focus of two investigations by the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board.
On Wednesday, the city of Baltimore filed a motion asking to keep the crew members in the country. But later Thursday, after a court hearing, a judge approved the deal that would allow eight Indians to return home by plane. The eight eligible crew members do not include any officers.
These include a cook, a fitter, an oiler and several sailors. The eight members who will arrive in India shortly were allowed to leave the United States after an agreement that guaranteed they could conduct interviews related to the lawsuit. The remaining crew members, including all of the ship's officers, will have to remain in the United States until litigation related to the accident is completed, which could take more than a year.
The ship is tentatively scheduled to depart Friday night for Norfolk, Virginia, according to a person familiar with developments. The 13 crew members, mostly Indians, will remain in the United States indefinitely and will be moved to service apartments in Baltimore, a source told ANI.
The four-member crew will remain on board for the duration of the voyage and will return to the service apartments at some point.
While none of the crew members have been charged in connection with the disaster, investigations are underway to determine who could be responsible. The mayor of Baltimore has announced legal action to "hold wrongdoers accountable."
In March, the transport ship named Dali lost power as she left Baltimore Harbor for Sri Lanka and crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing her to collapse.
On April 5, US President Joe Biden visited the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and promised to "move heaven and earth" to rebuild the structure.
