NTSB: Some of Ship's 56 Containers of Hazardous Materials were 'Breached'

March 28, 2024
A sheen has been observed on the Patapsco River at the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse site.

Hazardous materials carried on the ship that hit and brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge are  leaking into the Patapsco River.

The cargo vessel's manifest showed it was carrying at least 56 containers -- 764 tons -- of hazardous materials, mostly combustibles, flammable and lithium ion batteries, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a press conference late Wednesday night.

She said some of the containers were 'breached' when the ship struck the bridge.

After a sheen was observed, local, state and federal authorities were notifed.

Homendy said federal officials have been listening to the ship's voice data recording in an attempt to determine what happened in the momets before the collision. It's difficult at times to decifer as alarms sounded. 

Interviews are starting with the ship's 21 crew members and two pilots. 

Divers found the bodies of two workers in a submerged pickup truck Wednesday. Others will be recovered during the salvage operation, officials said. 

 

 

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