Dali Crew was stuck for weeks after the Baltimore Bridge Disaster

For two months, the 21-member crew of the cargo ship Dali has been stranded aboard after the vessel struck a Baltimore bridge, leaving them isolated without communication.

For almost two months, the crew of the huge container ship Dali has been stuck in the ship after it hit and saved the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on March 28th.

The 948-foot ship was heading from Baltimore to Sri Lanka when it hit the old bridge, and the span parts fell on the deck and hull of the Dali. Six people on the bridge died in the terrible collapse.

Ever since this happened, the 21 crew members - 20 Indians and 1 Sri Lankan - have been unable to leave the ship because of visa restrictions, lack of required shore passes, and the ongoing investigations by federal authorities.

On Monday, the sailors had to take shelter below deck because the crews were doing a controlled demolition of the collapsed bridge, using explosives to cut away the parts that were crushing Dali's bow. It was a risky situation for the sailors who had for weeks been trapped in their ship just miles from the shore.

He said that they are isolated at the moment, Joshua Messick of the Baltimore International Seafarers' Center. They are not able to contact their family, pay bills, or even see the photos of their kids.

Two maritime unions which are the crew of the ships have expressed their worries about the dropping morale and the limitation of the contact with their families at home. For weeks, the FBI had taken away the sailors' phones as one of the steps in the investigation.

Although the ship is forecasted to be refloated and moved to port this week, it is still not clear when the tired crew members will be allowed to disembark and start their repatriation process back home.

Also Read: Baltimore bridge collapsed post being hit by Singapore-flagged vessel

Groups of people have provided care packages of Indian snacks, quilts, and temporary cell phones to the Dali in recent days. However, for the mariners stuck at sea, the ordeal and extreme isolation still seem to be a long way to go.