Following the collapse of a significant portion of the iconic 'Francis Scott Key' bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, after being struck by a ship, all 20 Indian and one Sri Lankan crew members of the vessel are still on board as the investigation unfolds. American authorities have mandated that the crew remain on the ship until the conclusion of the investigation.

The ship's owner, Grace Ocean, and its operator, Synergy Marine, assured the Indian news agency PTI that all crew members are safe and continuing their daily routines aboard the ship. However, they are unable to disembark until the investigation process concludes. The duration of the investigation remains uncertain at this time.

A spokesperson for Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine emphasized that crew members cannot leave the ship until the investigation is completed, citing safety reasons. Nevertheless, it has been confirmed that all 21 crew members are safe and cooperating with investigators from the US National Transportation Safety Board and Coast Guard.

The incident occurred when the nearly 940-foot-long Singapore-flagged container ship 'Dali' lost power and collided with a concrete pier of the bridge on March 26. Despite the crew losing control due to the ship's lights going out in the dark, they managed to issue a distress message, alerting authorities of the impending collision and enabling prompt traffic stoppage on the bridge.

The quick decision-making of the crew has been lauded, with US President Joe Biden and the Mayor of Baltimore City commending the Indian crew for their actions. Unfortunately, the bridge collapse resulted in two fatalities and six missing construction workers.

The Baltimore International Seafarers Center has confirmed the safety of the ship's crew and their cooperation with investigators. The National Transportation Safety Board officials conducted an inspection of the vessel last Wednesday, gathering ship documents, voyage data recorders, and other evidence as part of the ongoing investigation. Subsequent inspections by various organizations are scheduled in the coming days to further aid the investigation process.