The Dali cargo ship, which was docked in Baltimore days before the crash, was reportedly facing a severe electrical problem, according to a port worker. Julie Mitchell, co-administrator of Container Royalty, a company that tracks tonnage on container ships in Baltimore, stated that the ship spent two days in the port dealing with serious power outages. Mitchell described the situation as a total power failure, resulting in a loss of engine power and other electrical issues.
During the ship's time in port, refrigerated boxes were causing breaker tripping, and mechanics had to run generators while attempting to resolve the electrical problem. While the information provided by Mitchell has not been independently verified, Maryland Governor Wes Moore confirmed that the ship's crew had reported a power loss before the crash.
Mitchell noted that such power problems are uncommon, labeling Tuesday's incident as very rare. She expressed concern that the ship was allowed to depart port without fully resolving the electrical issue. It remains unclear whether the problem was fixed before the ship set sail.
