Ship strikes Key Bridge and closes the Baltimore ship channel

Ship strikes Key Bridge and closes the Baltimore ship channel. The disruption ran from 2024-03-26 (26 March 2024) to 2024-06-10 (10 June 2024), 77 days, affecting Baltimore. Baltimore averaged 0.2 calls per day during the event window against an expected 1.5 (-1.3). Baltimore averaged 2.1 calls per day during the event window against an expected 5.5 (-61.5%).

Key facts

Started
2024-03-26 (26 March 2024)
Ended
2024-06-10 (10 June 2024)
Status
ended
Severity
3 Significant
Scope
port
Chokepoints
None
Lanes
None
Countries
United States
Confidence
high: The date and cause come from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, and the channel milestones from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Unified Command that carried out the work.
First reported
2024-03-26 (26 March 2024)
Casualties (official)
6 deaths, 2 injuries, as of 2025-11-18 [s1] [s2]
  • Severity basis: Port closure of seven days or more; the deep draft channel serving the Port of Baltimore was blocked from 2024-03-26 until its restoration on 2024-06-10.

What happened

On 2024-03-26 (26 March 2024) the container ship Dali lost electrical power on departure from Baltimore and struck a pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed into the Patapsco River and blocked the Fort McHenry Federal Channel, the deep draft approach to the Port of Baltimore. Six highway workers on the bridge were killed. Temporary alternate channels for shallow draft vessels opened in early April, and a limited access channel 300 feet wide and 35 feet deep followed on 2024-04-25. The Dali was refloated on 2024-05-20 and the channel was widened to 400 feet. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving announced on 2024-06-10 (10 June 2024) that the channel had been restored to 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep after about 50,000 tons of wreckage were removed.

Measured effect

Port calls, Baltimore

Baseline (expected)
5.5 calls per day
Observed
2.1 calls per day
Change
-3.4 (-61.5%)
Standardised score
-1.5
Event window
2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10 (77 days)
Baseline window
2024-01-23 to 2024-03-18 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:c6dfe8fc5c7d
Port calls, BaltimorePort calls, Baltimore, 2024-01-16 (16 January 2024) to 2024-07-22 (22 July 2024): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2024-03-26 to 10 calls per day on 2024-03-21, with a mean of 3.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2024-07-22, was 4 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10.02468102024-01-162024-04-192024-07-22
Port calls, Baltimore, 2024-01-16 (16 January 2024) to 2024-07-22 (22 July 2024): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2024-03-26 to 10 calls per day on 2024-03-21, with a mean of 3.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2024-07-22, was 4 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, Baltimore (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2024-01-165
2024-01-175
2024-01-185
2024-01-196
2024-01-207
2024-01-215
2024-01-227
2024-01-237
2024-01-248
2024-01-256
2024-01-266
2024-01-276
2024-01-286
2024-01-296
2024-01-304
2024-01-313
2024-02-015
2024-02-027
2024-02-038
2024-02-045
2024-02-058
2024-02-064
2024-02-074
2024-02-087
2024-02-094
2024-02-107
2024-02-111
2024-02-126
2024-02-135
2024-02-145
2024-02-156
2024-02-166
2024-02-172
2024-02-187
2024-02-193
2024-02-206
2024-02-215
2024-02-224
2024-02-237
2024-02-248
2024-02-254
2024-02-263
2024-02-277
2024-02-285
2024-02-292
2024-03-015
2024-03-022
2024-03-033
2024-03-046
2024-03-055
2024-03-068
2024-03-076
2024-03-084
2024-03-097
2024-03-105
2024-03-114
2024-03-126
2024-03-135
2024-03-145
2024-03-155
2024-03-169
2024-03-179
2024-03-184
2024-03-198
2024-03-206
2024-03-2110
2024-03-221
2024-03-237
2024-03-245
2024-03-255
2024-03-260
2024-03-271
2024-03-281
2024-03-290
2024-03-301
2024-03-310
2024-04-011
2024-04-022
2024-04-030
2024-04-042
2024-04-052
2024-04-061
2024-04-071
2024-04-080
2024-04-091
2024-04-100
2024-04-113
2024-04-122
2024-04-131
2024-04-141
2024-04-152
2024-04-160
2024-04-172
2024-04-181
2024-04-191
2024-04-200
2024-04-212
2024-04-222
2024-04-231
2024-04-243
2024-04-253
2024-04-262
2024-04-272
2024-04-280
2024-04-290
2024-04-301
2024-05-010
2024-05-023
2024-05-031
2024-05-042
2024-05-050
2024-05-061
2024-05-071
2024-05-081
2024-05-093
2024-05-101
2024-05-110
2024-05-122
2024-05-135
2024-05-141
2024-05-151
2024-05-164
2024-05-174
2024-05-183
2024-05-194
2024-05-202
2024-05-213
2024-05-225
2024-05-237
2024-05-240
2024-05-257
2024-05-262
2024-05-275
2024-05-283
2024-05-297
2024-05-303
2024-05-313
2024-06-015
2024-06-023
2024-06-033
2024-06-042
2024-06-052
2024-06-065
2024-06-077
2024-06-084
2024-06-094
2024-06-102
2024-06-115
2024-06-123
2024-06-135
2024-06-144
2024-06-156
2024-06-165
2024-06-175
2024-06-183
2024-06-195
2024-06-205
2024-06-214
2024-06-224
2024-06-238
2024-06-241
2024-06-254
2024-06-264
2024-06-278
2024-06-286
2024-06-296
2024-06-303
2024-07-015
2024-07-023
2024-07-033
2024-07-044
2024-07-056
2024-07-062
2024-07-072
2024-07-089
2024-07-095
2024-07-104
2024-07-118
2024-07-123
2024-07-136
2024-07-145
2024-07-153
2024-07-166
2024-07-175
2024-07-185
2024-07-195
2024-07-206
2024-07-213
2024-07-224

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Container ship port calls, Baltimore

Baseline (expected)
1.5 calls per day
Observed
0.2 calls per day
Change
-1.3 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
Standardised score
-1.3
Event window
2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10 (77 days)
Baseline window
2024-01-23 to 2024-03-18 (56 valid days)
Method
wfm-effect-1.0
Computed
2026-09-16 (16 September 2026), data revision 1:c50a1d0d4dae
Container ship port calls, BaltimoreContainer ship port calls, Baltimore, 2024-01-16 (16 January 2024) to 2024-07-22 (22 July 2024): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2024-01-16 to 4 calls per day on 2024-02-25, with a mean of 0.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2024-07-22, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10.012342024-01-162024-04-192024-07-22
Container ship port calls, Baltimore, 2024-01-16 (16 January 2024) to 2024-07-22 (22 July 2024): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2024-01-16 to 4 calls per day on 2024-02-25, with a mean of 0.9 calls per day. The latest value, for 2024-07-22, was 1 calls per day. The shaded band marks the event window, 2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Container ship port calls, Baltimore (calls per day).
Datecalls per day
2024-01-160
2024-01-170
2024-01-181
2024-01-192
2024-01-202
2024-01-213
2024-01-220
2024-01-231
2024-01-243
2024-01-251
2024-01-262
2024-01-272
2024-01-281
2024-01-292
2024-01-301
2024-01-311
2024-02-011
2024-02-021
2024-02-032
2024-02-042
2024-02-052
2024-02-060
2024-02-072
2024-02-081
2024-02-092
2024-02-103
2024-02-110
2024-02-122
2024-02-131
2024-02-142
2024-02-153
2024-02-162
2024-02-171
2024-02-181
2024-02-191
2024-02-202
2024-02-211
2024-02-221
2024-02-231
2024-02-242
2024-02-254
2024-02-260
2024-02-273
2024-02-282
2024-02-292
2024-03-010
2024-03-021
2024-03-031
2024-03-042
2024-03-051
2024-03-061
2024-03-071
2024-03-081
2024-03-091
2024-03-103
2024-03-111
2024-03-121
2024-03-132
2024-03-142
2024-03-151
2024-03-164
2024-03-172
2024-03-182
2024-03-193
2024-03-201
2024-03-213
2024-03-221
2024-03-231
2024-03-241
2024-03-251
2024-03-260
2024-03-270
2024-03-280
2024-03-290
2024-03-300
2024-03-310
2024-04-010
2024-04-020
2024-04-030
2024-04-040
2024-04-050
2024-04-060
2024-04-070
2024-04-080
2024-04-090
2024-04-100
2024-04-110
2024-04-120
2024-04-130
2024-04-140
2024-04-150
2024-04-160
2024-04-170
2024-04-180
2024-04-190
2024-04-200
2024-04-210
2024-04-220
2024-04-230
2024-04-240
2024-04-250
2024-04-260
2024-04-271
2024-04-280
2024-04-290
2024-04-300
2024-05-010
2024-05-020
2024-05-030
2024-05-040
2024-05-050
2024-05-060
2024-05-070
2024-05-080
2024-05-090
2024-05-100
2024-05-110
2024-05-121
2024-05-132
2024-05-140
2024-05-150
2024-05-160
2024-05-170
2024-05-181
2024-05-190
2024-05-200
2024-05-210
2024-05-220
2024-05-231
2024-05-240
2024-05-252
2024-05-261
2024-05-270
2024-05-280
2024-05-290
2024-05-300
2024-05-310
2024-06-012
2024-06-020
2024-06-031
2024-06-040
2024-06-051
2024-06-060
2024-06-070
2024-06-083
2024-06-090
2024-06-101
2024-06-111
2024-06-122
2024-06-131
2024-06-140
2024-06-152
2024-06-161
2024-06-171
2024-06-180
2024-06-191
2024-06-201
2024-06-210
2024-06-220
2024-06-233
2024-06-240
2024-06-250
2024-06-261
2024-06-272
2024-06-282
2024-06-290
2024-06-302
2024-07-011
2024-07-020
2024-07-030
2024-07-041
2024-07-051
2024-07-060
2024-07-071
2024-07-084
2024-07-090
2024-07-101
2024-07-112
2024-07-120
2024-07-132
2024-07-141
2024-07-151
2024-07-161
2024-07-171
2024-07-181
2024-07-190
2024-07-202
2024-07-211
2024-07-221

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Replay

Replay: Port calls, BaltimorePort calls, Baltimore, 2024-01-26 (26 January 2024) to 2024-06-10 (10 June 2024): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2024-03-26 to 10 calls per day on 2024-03-21. The shaded band marks the event window, 2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10.02468102024-01-262024-06-10
Port calls, Baltimore, 2024-01-26 (26 January 2024) to 2024-06-10 (10 June 2024): values ranged from 0 calls per day on 2024-03-26 to 10 calls per day on 2024-03-21. The shaded band marks the event window, 2024-03-26 to 2024-06-10.

Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms. Retrieved 2026-11-10 (10 November 2026).

Port calls, Baltimore (calls per day), daily values shown in the replay.
Datecalls per day
2024-01-266
2024-01-276
2024-01-286
2024-01-296
2024-01-304
2024-01-313
2024-02-015
2024-02-027
2024-02-038
2024-02-045
2024-02-058
2024-02-064
2024-02-074
2024-02-087
2024-02-094
2024-02-107
2024-02-111
2024-02-126
2024-02-135
2024-02-145
2024-02-156
2024-02-166
2024-02-172
2024-02-187
2024-02-193
2024-02-206
2024-02-215
2024-02-224
2024-02-237
2024-02-248
2024-02-254
2024-02-263
2024-02-277
2024-02-285
2024-02-292
2024-03-015
2024-03-022
2024-03-033
2024-03-046
2024-03-055
2024-03-068
2024-03-076
2024-03-084
2024-03-097
2024-03-105
2024-03-114
2024-03-126
2024-03-135
2024-03-145
2024-03-155
2024-03-169
2024-03-179
2024-03-184
2024-03-198
2024-03-206
2024-03-2110
2024-03-221
2024-03-237
2024-03-245
2024-03-255
2024-03-260
2024-03-271
2024-03-281
2024-03-290
2024-03-301
2024-03-310
2024-04-011
2024-04-022
2024-04-030
2024-04-042
2024-04-052
2024-04-061
2024-04-071
2024-04-080
2024-04-091
2024-04-100
2024-04-113
2024-04-122
2024-04-131
2024-04-141
2024-04-152
2024-04-160
2024-04-172
2024-04-181
2024-04-191
2024-04-200
2024-04-212
2024-04-222
2024-04-231
2024-04-243
2024-04-253
2024-04-262
2024-04-272
2024-04-280
2024-04-290
2024-04-301
2024-05-010
2024-05-023
2024-05-031
2024-05-042
2024-05-050
2024-05-061
2024-05-071
2024-05-081
2024-05-093
2024-05-101
2024-05-110
2024-05-122
2024-05-135
2024-05-141
2024-05-151
2024-05-164
2024-05-174
2024-05-183
2024-05-194
2024-05-202
2024-05-213
2024-05-225
2024-05-237
2024-05-240
2024-05-257
2024-05-262
2024-05-275
2024-05-283
2024-05-297
2024-05-303
2024-05-313
2024-06-015
2024-06-023
2024-06-033
2024-06-042
2024-06-052
2024-06-065
2024-06-077
2024-06-084
2024-06-094
2024-06-102

This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.

Timeline

  1. The Dali contacts a pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 01:29 local time after a loss of electrical power. The bridge falls across the main ship channel, ending deep draft access to the Port of Baltimore. [s1] [s2] [s5]
  2. The first temporary alternate channel opens around the wreckage for shallow draft vessels, the first of the interim routes used while the main channel stays blocked. [s3]
  3. A limited access channel 300 feet wide and 35 feet deep opens through the wreckage. [s3]
  4. The Dali is refloated and moved from the site, and the federal channel is opened at 400 feet wide and 50 feet deep. [s3]
  5. The Unified Command surveys the riverbed and certifies it safe for transit, and the Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy announce the channel restored to 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep. [s3]
  6. The National Transportation Safety Board adopts its final report, finding the probable cause to be a blackout caused by a loose signal wire connection at a terminal block. [s1] [s2]

Cause

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause was a loss of electrical power caused by a loose signal wire connection to a terminal block, which stemmed from the improper installation of wire label banding and left the vessel without propulsion or steering near the bridge. The board said the bridge lacked countermeasures against a strike by an ocean going ship. Attributed by: National Transportation Safety Board. [s1] [s2]

Resolution

2024-06-10 (10 June 2024): Wreckage removal by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving restored the Fort McHenry Federal Channel to 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep on 2024-06-10, returning the Port of Baltimore to unrestricted deep draft access. [s3]

Corrections

No corrections to this record as of 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026).

Sources

  1. [s1] National Transportation Safety Board, Contact of containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and subsequent bridge collapse, published 2025-11-18 (18 November 2025), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  2. [s2] National Transportation Safety Board, Contact of Containership Dali with Francis Scott Key Bridge and Subsequent Bridge Collapse, published 2025-11-18 (18 November 2025), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  3. [s3] U.S. Army, USACE announces full restoration of Baltimore's Fort McHenry Federal Channel, published 2024-06-10 (10 June 2024), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
  4. [s5] gCaptain, Baltimore Bridge Hit By Ship - Major Collapse, published 2024-03-26 (26 March 2024), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)

Cite this record

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Plain text

World Freight Monitor. "Ship strikes Key Bridge and closes the Baltimore ship channel." Last updated 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026). https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2024/ship-strikes-key-bridge-baltimore-2024/

APA

World Freight Monitor. (2026). Ship strikes Key Bridge and closes the Baltimore ship channel. World Freight Monitor. https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2024/ship-strikes-key-bridge-baltimore-2024/

BibTeX

@misc{wfm_ship_strikes_key_bridge_baltimore_2024,
  author = {{World Freight Monitor}},
  title = {Ship strikes Key Bridge and closes the Baltimore ship channel},
  year = {2026},
  note = {Last updated 2026-09-16},
  url = {https://worldfreightmonitor.com/events/2024/ship-strikes-key-bridge-baltimore-2024/}
}