Cargo vessel Dali departs Baltimore, welcomes long-awaited return of 8 crew members after prolonged stay at sea.
Three more team members from the ship are now permitted to travel back overseas, according to a representative of the ship's management.
The update was announced as the Dali cargo ship commenced its voyage on Monday from Baltimore's Seagirt Marine Terminal towards Norfolk, Virginia, for repairs. Darrell Wilson, the spokesperson for the manager, Synergy Marine, made this statement.
Four members of the crew remained aboard the vessel to facilitate a relief crew during the Dali's trip to Norfolk, Wilson explained. Upon completion of the journey, they will reunite with the seven crew members currently stranded in the United States indefinitely.
Since March 26, the Dali's crew, consisting of 20 individuals from India and one from Sri Lanka, have been trapped on the ship. At freezing pre-dawn hours, the massive 984-foot ship suffered power loss, deviated from its course, and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, tragically claiming the lives of six construction workers.
Though no crew members have been criminally charged in relation to the disaster, investigations are being conducted to ascertain responsibility.
The ship's officers are among the 11 crew members compelled to remain in the U.S., according to Wilson. They have been working closely with the authorities, but it is uncertain when they will be able to depart.
The seafarers who will reside in the U.S. are anticipated to stay in hotels or apartments, stated the Rev. Joshua Messick, director of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center and Port of Baltimore's chaplain.
"The crew is in a state of anxiousness and high stress, considering they don't have a clue about their future," Messick shared with CNN on Thursday. "They're uncertain about when they'll be reunited with their families again and how they'll be treated here."
Regarding the 106,000-ton vessel, "The Dali is planned to head directly to Virginia International Gateway to offload around 1,500 cargo containers to reduce draft," the US Coast Guard stated in a Monday morning release.
"The vessel will then proceed to Norfolk International Terminal for continued salvage and repairs from the damage incurred during the bridge collapse."
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The 10 members of the crew, including some officers, are currently stranded in the United States indefinitely, waiting for permission to return home. Despite the challenges, the stranded crew members are being accommodated in hotels or apartments.
Upon their return, the 10 crew members will join the remaining members of their ship, the US-bound Dali cargo vessel, which is currently en route to Virginia for repairs.
