Nearly 2 months after Baltimore bridge collapse, Dali crew still stuck on board

[JACK AYLMER]

MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE THE DEADLY BALTIMORE BRIDGE COLLAPSE ON MARCH 26TH. 

ONE THING THAT HAS NOT– THE CREW OF 21 IS STILL STUCK ON THE SHIP THAT HIT THE BRIDGE.

AS A CONTROLLED DEMOLITION OF THE FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE GOT UNDERWAY THIS WEEK– THE MEN ABOARD THE SHIP HOPE IT SIGNALS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THEIR ENTRAPMENT. 

THE CREW OF 21 MEN IS FAR FROM HOME.

20 ARE FROM INDIA–AND ONE FROM SRI LANKA.

BECAUSE OF ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS, VISAS RESTRICTIONS, AND NO ACCESS TO SHORE PASSES– THE MEN ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE.

MAKING MATTERS WORSE THE CREW HAS BEEN LARGELY WITHOUT COMMUNICATION TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD AFTER THE F-B-I CONFISCATED ALL THEIR PHONES AS PART OF IT’S INVESTIGATION.

TWO UNIONS REPRESENTING THE CREW SAID, “MORALE HAS UNDERSTANDABLY DIPPED.”

CAUSED BY “UNFOUNDED FEARS OF PERSONAL CRIMINAL LIABILITY” AND THE EMOTIONAL TOLL.

THE UNIONS CALLED FOR THE “SWIFT” RETURN OF THE CREWS PHONES. 

CITING THE IMPACT OF LOSING COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY FOR CREW MEMBERS WITH CHILDREN.

EVENTUALLY THE CREW WAS GIVEN SIM CARDS AND TEMPORARY PHONES WITH NO DATA INCLUDED. 

THE UNIFIED COMMAND OVERSEEING THE RESPONSE TO THE SHIP AND BRIDGE COLLAPSE COULD NOT GIVE A TIMELINE FOR WHEN THE MEN MIGHT BE ABLE TO DISEMBARK.

BUT SAID THEIR NEEDS ARE BEING TENDED TO.

THE MEN HAVE BEEN CATERED INDIAN FOOD AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH RELIGIOUS AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. 

AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BALTIMORE SEAFARERS CENTER, WHICH HELPS PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF MARINERS, HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MEN. 

HE SAID HE EXPECTS HE’LL BE ABLE TO BOARD THE SHIP AS SOON AS IT’S MOVED OUT OF THE SHIPPING CHANNEL. AFTER THAT, HE BELIEVES THE SAILORS WILL BE 

ELIGIBLE FOR SHORE PASSES WITH THEIR MOVEMENTS VERY RESTRICTED.

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