Dali container ship that crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge bringing it crumbling down previously smashed into a dock in Antwerp

The container ship that crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge, causing it to collapse, has previously smashed into a dock in Antwerp, Belgium.

The vessel has been identified as Singapore-flagged Dali, which was enroute from Baltimore to the Sri Lankan city of Colombo when it collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

But this is not the first time the Dali has crashed. In 2016, the ship smashed into the dock in Antwerp, Belgium, as it was leaving the port for German city Bremerhaven during good weather. 

The crash happened due to a mistake by the Master and pilot on board the ship, Vessel Finder reports. 

The Dali suffered 'sufficient damages' in the stern, but remained afloat, while the dock was 'seriously damaged' at the time. No people were injured at the time and no oil spill was reported.

The vessel has been identified as Singapore-flagged Dali, which was enroute from Baltimore to the Sri Lankan city of Colombo when it collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge

But this is not the first time the Dali has crashed. In 2016, the ship smashed into the dock in Antwerp, Belgium, as it was leaving the port during good weather

Footage of the incident shows the stern crashing into the dock, creating a cloud of dust as the ship damaged the stone walls 

The bridge spans 9,000 feet across the Patapsco River and is 180 feet above the water

Footage of the incident shows the stern crashing into the dock, creating a cloud of dust as the ship damaged the stone walls.  

Built in 2015, the Dali measures 948 feet in length and nearly 164 feet in width. It can carry about 111,000 tonnes of cargo on board. 

It was manufactured by South Korean firm Hyundai Heavy Industries and is currently sailing under Singaporean flags.

In the shocking crash with the Key Bridge in Baltimore this morning, the Dali was filmed changing course, before it appeared to slow down as all the exterior lights turned off and smoke appeared. 

Footage of its approach reveals how the vessel appeared to suddenly lose power before making a partial recovery. 

The ship is then seen billowing black smoke into the night sky before losing power again and abruptly pivoting towards one of the structural supports holding the bridge up.

Upon colliding with the 180ft-high structure, the ship appears to lose power a third time as the bridge collapses dramatically around it, first breaking around the support before breaking in the middle and losing balance on its eastern pillar.

Rescue workers are working furiously in an attempt to save the lives of dozens of people who were plunged into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River when the bridge collapsed. 

Initial reports indicate that at least a dozen cars hit the 47 degree water in addition to a 20 or so construction workers who were working on the bridge at the time. The workers were pouring concrete on to the bridge at the time of crash. 

Astonishing footage shows the moment the vessel plowed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, sending the colossal steel structure crashing into the Patapsco River, shortly before 1.30am Eastern

The ship involved is the 948 foot long Dali, a Singaporean-flagged container which could be seen on ship tracking websites positioned stationary under the bridge following the crash

The bridge quickly collapsed into the Patapsco River after the collision with the container ship

A livestream showed the disaster unfolding, with the vessel plowing into a pile holding up the central part of the bridge. The road and steel arches immediately tumble into the water

The crew has remained on board the ship and are being questioned by members of the Coast Guard

Built in 2015, the Dali (pictured here in 2018) measures 948 feet in length and nearly 164 feet in width. It can carry about 111,000 tonnes of cargo on board

At the first press conference around 6.30am, Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace could only confirm that two people were pulled from the water. 

One was unhurt, the other had to be rushed to a local hospital with 'serious injuries'.

Wallace said that workers are looking for 'upwards of seven' people but that the number of missing could change as the collapse is a 'very large incident.' The chief called the efforts a 'search and rescue' operation. 

The rescue effort incorporates Coast Guard ships, local police boats, Baltimore's Fire Department, volunteer fire departments from the surrounding areas as well as teams of divers as the desperate search for survivors goes on. 

There appeared to be an explosion on the container ship as it collided with the bridge sending container and diesel flooding into the water. One of the vehicles that fell to the water was a tractor-trailer. 

The Dali could be seen on ship tracking websites positioned stationary under the bridge following the crash. 

It left Baltimore's Seagirt Marine Terminal at 12.24am, at 1.25am, is began to slow and diverted off of its course. The video shows lights going off on board just before the crash. 

According to the ship's owners, all crew members were accounted for with no injuries reported. The owners also said in a statement that: 'There has been no pollution,' TradeWinds, a global shipping publication, reports. 

The crew has remained on board the ship and are being questioned by members of the Coast Guard. 

The effort is a race against time due to the tide which is coming back in as of 6.30am local time, Wallace said. 

Multiple boats marked as Coast Guard search and rescue vessels were surrounding the ship around 7am Eastern. The Coast Guard later said that 'multiple response units deployed for active search and rescue.'

Multiple boats marked as Coast Guard search and rescue vessels were surrounding the ship around 7am Eastern

In the wake of the collapse, structural engineer and bridge designer Ian Firth told the BBC that it appears as the the ship 'strayed' rather to the side rather than going under the center of the bridge

Around 30,000 vehicles use the bridge, which is named for the writer of the Star Spangled Banner, every day. It opened in 1977

Kevin Cartwright, director of communications for the Baltimore Fire Department, called the situation 'a dire emergency.' 

'Our focus right now is trying to rescue and recover these people,' Cartwright said. He said it's too early to know how many people were affected but called the collapse a 'developing mass casualty event.'

Cartwright said it appears there are 'some cargo or retainers hanging from the bridge,' creating unsafe and unstable conditions, and that emergency responders are operating cautiously as a result.

Hypothermia can occur when a person's body temperature drops below 95 degrees.

It's unclear what cargo the Dali was holding. The vessel was due to land in Asia on April 27. 

It arrived in Baltimore from Norfolk on Monday having previously made journeys to New York City and Panama. 

The 1.6-mile bridge, which is part of I-695, crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore's harbor. Built in 1977, the main span of the truss bridge at 1,200ft is the third longest span of any continuous truss in the world.

The structure carries around 12million vehicles every year. It carries the Baltimore Beltway/Interstate 695 over the river. 

Baltimore's port became internationally famous in 2003 when it was a key setting for the second season of HBO's The Wire. 

The port handles $2.6 billion in business income and nearly $400 million in taxes, according to Maryland's government. In 2023, the port handled 52.3 tons of cargo at a value of $80.8 billion.