The International Propeller Club mourns the loss of at least six bridge workers as a result of yesterday’s allision of the containership Dali with the Francis Scott Key bridge at the Port of Baltimore. Thankfully, it appears that all twenty-two crew members of the Dali survived, and we are grateful for the first responders – divers, search and rescue personnel of the State of Maryland and the U.S. Coast Guard – who immediately went into action to save lives.
For almost 100 years, the International Propeller Club has been a bulwark of support for all those who comprise the one indispensable industry of the world – shipping. Our business network dedicates itself to promoting the maritime industry, commerce, and global trade. Today, we reiterate that support with our prayers for the families who suffered unbearable losses and for the people of Baltimore whose lives will undoubtedly be affected both economically and materially. The Francis Scott Key bridge, some 1.6 miles long and on which almost 35,000 passengers cross each day, is a crucial part of the critical infrastructure the region depends on. That bridge marks the entry to the Port of Baltimore, itself a powerhouse of the local economy, annually handling almost one-half million cruise passengers, 52 million tons of cargo, and employing 15,000 people directly and another 140,00 others indirectly.
While the cause is yet unknown, this tragedy emphasizes the importance of the shipping industry to the world’s economy, in which 80% of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea. The International Propeller Club, our members worldwide, and especially the members of the Propeller Club of Baltimore who make commerce possible will redouble our efforts to reestablish the Port of Baltimore and the supply chains worldwide, which will be seriously altered in the near term.
The International Propeller Club of the United States, founded in 1927, is an international business network of maritime professionals dedicated to the promotion of the maritime industry, commerce, and global trade. Over 60 local chapters in the United States and abroad are organized into chapters, called “Ports,” which meet regularly to hear from industry leaders, for service opportunities, and to network with industry colleagues.
Source: Hellenic Shipping News
