In a petition sent to a judge on Tuesday, the city argues that allowing the foreign crew of the Dali to leave the country could interfere with two investigations being led by the FBI and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The sailors, who are from India and Sri Lanka, have been trapped aboard the ship since it hit the bridge on 26 March, killing six construction workers on the bridge.
According to court documents, the city learned on Tuesday from the ship’s owners that eight of the sailors were planning to leave the US as early as Thursday.
Lawyers for the city and another party filing suit against the ship owners are asking the judge to convene an emergency hearing to decide the issue.
“The crew consists entirely of foreign nationals who, of course, have critical knowledge and information about the events giving rise to this litigation,” wrote Adam Levitt, a lawyer for the city of Baltimore.
Is that for sure what happened? IIRC there was speculation about mechanical failure (lights we not out on ship, large plume of smoke…).
Though perhaps that doesn’t really matter as far as how much it sucks for the crew.
Maybe. What matters is that most of the crew had no involvement in what happened.
They are material witnesses.
And the FBI, etc had 2.5 months to interview them … which was done.
They should be allowed to go home.
But these are the city and another party. Civil liability etc. separate investigations that come after the FBI.
So yeah, it really sucks for these guys. And the judge should put a clock on the time the city and other parties have, so these guys can go home asap.