The Same Cargo Ship That Took Down the Maryland Bridge Took Down A Belgian Port Wall Back in 2016

Earlier this week, the U.S. was shocked after a ship rammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland.

Immediately, people began to wonder how something like this happened. Was the captain drunk? Did the bridge appear Brigadoon-like out of nowhere? And, if you’re weird, is there a way we can be racist about a boat crash?

In reality, the crash happened as a result of a total power failure. While the crew tried multiple methods for getting things up and running again, as well as stopping the ship from going any further, their efforts proved fruitless, causing them to send out a mayday signal. Soon after, the boat hit a concrete pillar, resulting in the collapse of basically the entire bridge.

Now, you may be wondering, how does a power failure happen on a boat of this magnitude? It turns out the company behind the boating expedition has a history of allegedly trying to cover up safety issues — and not only that, but the boat itself was involved in a crash several years ago.

Per Reuters, “The container ship Dali hit a quay on July 11, 2016, as it tried to exit the North Sea container terminal” in Antwerp, Belgium. This is the same ship that rammed into the Baltimore Bridge. 0 for 2 there, boat!

Following the 2016 crash, the boat sustained “hull damage impairing its seaworthiness,” at which point it remained docked until repairs could be made to a sufficient safety standard.

However, Maersk Line Limited, which chartered the cargo ship, has safety concerns of its own. As reported by The Lever, the Labor Department had recently “sanctioned the shipping conglomerate for retaliating against an employee who reported unsafe working conditions aboard a Maersk-operated boat.”

According to The Lever, an employee was fired after he reported “unrepaired leaks, unpermitted alcohol consumption onboard, inoperable lifeboats, faulty emergency fire suppression equipment and other issues” aboard another ship operated by Maersk, the Safmarine Mafadi.

God, planes, helicopters and now boats? Is there any safe form of transportation left? Whatever — if you need me, I’ll be heading out on my hot air balloon. Let’s just hope my destination is downwind.