MPA Singapore: Dali passed port state inspections

In the aftermath of a tragic maritime accident in Baltimore, Maryland, involving the container vessel Dali, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA Singapore) has provided reassurance regarding the vessel’s compliance with safety standards and regulations.

This assurance comes amidst questions surrounding the vessel’s adherence to maritime safety protocols following the collision.

The Dali, which has been flagged with Singapore since October 2016 and classed by classification society ClassNK, has come under scrutiny following the collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The collision resulted in the collapse of the bridge and several people falling into the river. The accident triggered a massive search and rescue operation, which was suspended late last night. Six people, believed to be construction workers, are presumed deceased.

Addressing the concerns, MPA Singapore said that the ship’s records confirmed the vessel’s compliance with requisite standards at the time of the incident.

“Based on records, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore confirms that the vessel’s required classification society and statutory certificates covering the structural integrity of the vessel and functionality of the vessel’s equipment, were valid at the time of the incident,” MPA Singapore said.

Furthermore, it has been revealed that the vessel underwent and successfully passed two separate foreign port state inspections in June and September 2023. Notably, during the June 2023 inspection, a minor issue concerning a faulty monitor gauge for fuel pressure was promptly rectified before the vessel departed the port.

Dali’s next classification and statutory surveys are due in June 2024.