Maritime union warns of poor industry standards after Baltimore bridge collision

The oldest American maritime labor union on Tuesday suggested that industry practices of minimum crewing and setting low operating standards may have contributed to the collision of a container ship with Baltimore's Key Bridge.

The ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge at roughly 1:30 a.m., resulting in its collapse. Following the disaster, The Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.) issued a statement expressing sympathy for the victims of the collision and urging the industry to take steps to avoid comparable developments in the future.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families of the bridge collapse in Baltimore. We are grateful for the support of the U.S. Coast Guard, first responders, firefighters, police officers, and frontline workers who are ensuring the safety of everyone affected," the union stated. "As we await a formal investigation from the NTSB [National Transportation Safety Board], we are soberly reminded of the cruel phrase in our industry that 'rules are written in blood'."

While the union did not directly attribute the incident to industry shortcomings, it did suggest that improvements to standards could avert similar collisions.

"This unfortunate incident highlights the need for strong safety standards in the global maritime industry that fall short of those in the U.S. merchant marine," it continued. "While we continue to learn more about what happened on this tragic day, all global ship operators must avoid future accidents contributed by poor working and operating standards that utilize minimum crewing for profit at the expense of human life and safety."

The cause of the crash is still under investigation and the number of victims remains unclear. Video footage on social media showed the vessel collide with one of the main columns of the bridge, resulting in its near-instant collapse.

Mass Casualty event in Baltimore.

Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses after giant ship slams into pillar.

10+ vehicles on bridge fall hundreds of feet into water below.pic.twitter.com/zqW3929TTB

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) March 26, 2024

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.