The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has established a collaboration with Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, a ship management firm, to offer information and support the US Coast Guard’s investigation into the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of MPA, expressed the organisation’s ongoing support for the US Coast Guard and local authorities to Admiral Linda L. Fagan, Commandant of the US Coast Guard.
As a result of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore suspended ship traffic entering and departing the port.
MPA has requested that the vessel’s classification society, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), produce technical assessments and stability calculations to help the US Coast Guard plan and execute safe vessel salvage operations.
MPA, the Singapore flag administration, prioritises the safety of vessels registered under its flag.
As part of its flag state obligations, MPA will reportedly be conducting an investigation to determine whether there have been any infringements of relevant statutory requirements under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.
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The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), under Singapore’s Ministry of Transport, will conduct an independent marine safety investigation under the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Casualty Investigation Code.
The goal is to identify lessons to prevent future incidents and casualties. The TSIB’s maritime safety inquiry does not aim to assign fault or assess culpability for the occurrence.
MPA stated that it will collaborate with the ship management firm to prioritise the safety of Dali’s crew and cooperate with local authorities throughout the situation.
According to multiple sources, two bodies were recently recovered from waters beneath the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it collapsed.
