The U.S. Coast Guard has released the Ports and Waterways Safety Act Board of Inquiry (BOI) report following the March 26, 2024, allision of the Motor Vessel Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which resulted in six deaths, the bridge’s catastrophic failure, and the prolonged closure of the Port of Baltimore.
The BOI evaluated risks to critical port infrastructure posed by larger commercial vessels and increased traffic, conducted vulnerability assessments for 11 ports, reviewed the effectiveness of Coast Guard waterways risk assessment tools, and provided recommendations to the Coast Guard Commandant.
To meet its mandate, the Board developed a comprehensive process that included port visits, engagement with port partners, vessel movement analysis, and review of historic assessment tool usage. The Board also conducted a policy review and gathered feedback from 41 Captain of the Port zones, resulting in 20 recommendations for systemic improvement.
The final report highlights the underutilization of waterway risk assessment tools and the vulnerability of port infrastructure to evolving risks within the Marine Transportation System (MTS). The
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