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National Transportation Safety Board Reveals Data on DALI Cargo Ship’s Black Box
In recent news, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chair, Jennifer Homendy, announced the successful recovery of the voyage data recorder, commonly referred to as the “black box,” from the DALI cargo ship. The ship had collided with the Francis Scott Key bridge in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Data on the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR)
The NTSB held a press conference later in the day with investigator Marcel Muise to present the findings from the DALI’s black box, known as the Voyage Data Recorder (VDR). Muise disclosed that approximately six hours of data were available on the VDR, covering a timeframe from midnight to 6 am.
Prior to divulging the data recorded on the VDR, Muise cautioned that the quality of the voice recording and radio data might be challenging to decipher due to background noise.
Key Findings from the VDR
Marcel Muise shared crucial information regarding the VDR data retrieved from the DALI. He mentioned that the sensor data recording ceased at a certain point, but the audio recording persisted using a redundant power source. Muise further explained that the ship’s pilot had made a high-frequency radio call for nearby tugs to provide assistance. Simultaneously, the pilot dispatcher contacted the Maryland Transportation Authority duty officer to report the blackout situation.
Additionally, Muise highlighted that the ship’s speed over ground was recorded just below 7 knots, with audio recordings indicating sounds consistent with the bridge collision at a specific timestamp.
Further Investigations and Discoveries
Prior to the revelations from the black box data, Homendy mentioned that a team of operations and engineering experts had conducted a thorough inspection of the DALI’s bridge and engine room. Their objective was to locate any electronic recorders, cameras, or CCTV footage that could provide additional insights. However, the search yielded no significant findings in terms of downloadable data.
Insights from The Washington Post
According to a report from The Washington Post, initial data from the container ship’s voice data recorder indicated that alarms were triggered on the DALI around 1:24 am on the fateful Tuesday morning. The pilot’s subsequent actions, including requesting assistance via radio and attempting to navigate the vessel before the collision, were also captured in the recordings. Notably, the audio recordings reflected the pilot’s distress calls and maneuvering efforts leading up to the impact with the bridge.
The account provided by The Washington Post paints a detailed picture of the sequence of events preceding the tragic collision between the DALI cargo ship and the Francis Scott Key bridge. The information gleaned from the various data sources, including the VDR, sheds light on the critical moments that preceded the incident.
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