The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a multimodal investigation into the collision of the cargo vessel Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the subsequent bridge collapse. During a recent hearing, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy discussed the progress of the investigation and the agency's requirement for increased resources to manage its growing workload.
A preliminary report regarding the investigation was released on May 14. Investigators remained on the scene in Baltimore and aboard the Dali until May 10, nearly seven weeks after the accident occurred. The NTSB noted that the extended duration of on-scene fact-gathering is unusual and reflects the complexity of the event.
The investigation is a multimodal effort led by the Office of Marine Safety, with support from the offices of Highway Safety, Research and Engineering, and Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations. While the agency has issued 2,636 marine safety recommendations since 1967, including 67 related to bridge collapses caused by vessel strikes, the current workload remains heavy.
The NTSB reported a need for additional investigators to prevent major investigations from delaying other cases. The Office of Marine Safety currently has 12 investigators and is also managing 60 other marine safety events. The agency stated it needs over 50 additional investigators to be fully staffed, including more specialists in aviation, highway, pipeline, hazardous materials, and rail safety.
In addition to personnel, the agency requires $2.4 million to replace aging and obsolete equipment in its research and engineering laboratories. For fiscal year 2025, the NTSB has a budget request of $150 million, which includes a $10 million increase provided by the President to help fill positions and provide program enhancements.
The NTSB serves as an independent federal agency responsible for investigating significant transportation accidents to determine probable causes and issue safety recommendations. The agency currently manages over 1,200 active investigations across 47 states and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 140 foreign investigations in over 50 countries.
