yachts in ukraine

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Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky becomes target of luxury yacht hoax

Ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has become a renewed target for misinformation after online posts viewed tens of thousands of times baselessly claimed he purchased two luxury yachts in october 2023. the false posts cited fabricated documents that have since been disowned by the yachting association they cited. as of january 18, 2024, the yachts were still for sale, their brokers told afp..

A wave of pro-Kremlin disinformation -- much of which has targeted Zelensky -- has flooded the internet since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The latest major hoax about the Ukrainian leader cited fabricated documents that falsely purported to show he bought two luxury yachts.

It emerged in late November last year on US social media accounts, most notably on the Facebook page for "Redacted", a US-based online show hosted by Natali Morris and her husband Clayton Morris, a former "Fox & Friends" personality.

The baseless claim subsequently spread on Korean social media, including in this Korean-language YouTube video on November 28, 2023 that has been viewed more than 14,000 times.

A Korean speaker -- heard narrating over MSNBC footage of Zelenksy addressing the US Congress in December 2022 -- alleges the Ukrainian president "secretly purchased two luxury yachts" using close aides as proxies, citing Redacted as his source.

He goes on to say that Zelensky acquired one yacht, "My Legacy" after it was purchased in the name of Sergiy Shefir -- a Ukrainian politician and close aide of the president -- for $49.75 million on October 25, 2023.

He says Zelensky acquired a second yacht "Lucky Me" after it was purchased for $24.90 million by Sergiy's brother Boris.

"It's revealed that Zelensky, who has completely destroyed the country and is facing defeat, is preparing to flee overseas," the speaker says.

The clip then cuts to screenshots appearing to show purchase records for the yachts. They are labelled: "Memorandum of Agreement Approved by The Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association", as shown in the screenshot below:

Following the revelations in the so-called Pandora Papers obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Zelensky was reported in 2021 to have used a network of offshore companies to buy upmarket properties in London before transferring his stake in one of the companies to Sergiy Shefir shortly ahead of his election as president in 2019 ( archived link ).

However, according to the BBC, the Ukrainian President's Office has refuted the latest yacht purchase allegation, saying that Zelensky and his family members "do not and did not have any yachts" ( archived link ).

Redacted's video appears to have been removed from its YouTube channel but has surfaced on other platforms including BitChute and TikTok . The episode's transcript has also been shared online.

Similar posts baselessly claiming Zelensky purchased two luxury yachts have also spread in other Korean-language posts on social media site X; Naver Blog; and DC Inside .

'Obviously modified'

A closer analysis of the alleged purchase records for the yachts -- which cite "The Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association" -- found they were fabricated.

The France-based firm has since been rebranded "MYBA The Worldwide Yachting Association" as reflected here in a 2008 entry on the French government's corporate registry website ( archived link ).

AFP found the firm's logo on the fabricated documents was also old and had not been used on the MYBA's archived pages since 2014 .

"Our current logo dates from 2021," Jane Adlington-Brumer, MYBA's general secretary, told AFP on January 15. The documents in the false posts "have obviously been modified", she added.

Below is a screenshot comparison of a purported document shared in the false posts (left) and MYBA's official website displaying its current name and logo (right):

AFP found the fabricated documents resemble an old purchase agreement template published on the MYBA's website. Adlington-Brumer said the template was "no longer endorsed by MYBA".

Unsold yachts

Luxury yacht brokers separately told AFP that "My Legacy" and "Lucky Me" had not been sold, contrary to the claim in the social media posts.

"'My Legacy' is still for sale with Burgess as the sole central agency for the listing. The yacht has not been sold," Burgess company spokesperson Nicci Perides said on January 8.

A representative for BehneMar, the firm listing the "Lucky Me" yacht, separately told AFP on January 10 the posts are "totally wrong and false".

"The yacht has not been sold and is still for sale with BehneMar as the exclusive listing company," the representative said.

Both " My Legacy " and " Lucky Me " remained listed for sale on the respective websites of Burgess and BehneMar as of January 19 (archived links here and here ).

AFP South Korea

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Ukrainian oligarch seeks to distance himself from Russia by mulling sale of superyacht.

The richest man in Ukraine has committed to building back his country. But he is also constructing a luxury ship that would rival a yacht that the U.S. government believes may belong to Vladimir Putin.

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By Michael Forsythe

• May 19, 2022

As his steel mill in Mariupol was being destroyed by Russian bombs, becoming the site of a last stand by the city’s defenders, the billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man, emerged as a staunch supporter of the country’s war effort.

But even as Mr. Akhmetov pledged to help rebuild Ukraine, a large portion of his fortune was committed to a secret vanity project that speaks to his past as a pro-Russian oligarch: A German shipyard is building a superyacht for his family’s use.

The yacht, now known only by the code name Luminance , may be among the 10 largest superyachts in the world when finished. Nearly half of those are owned by Russian business magnates. In tonnage, the 475-foot luxury vessel could approach the size of the Moskva, the Russian Navy cruiser that the Ukrainian military said it sank last month in the Black Sea.

Now, Mr. Akhmetov is considering selling the yacht, even before it is completed. “Given the current circumstances, we are considering its possible sale,” Jock Mendoza-Wilson, director of international relations for Mr. Akhmetov’s company, System Capital Management, said in a statement. The New York Times is the first to reveal Mr. Akhmetov’s ownership of the vessel.

Owning a luxury yacht has become a status symbol for oligarchs from Russia and other former republics of the Soviet Union, who in recent years have eclipsed Gulf state kings, princes, sultans and sheikhs as the top buyers of the very biggest vessels.

But since Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its support of a separatist movement in eastern Ukraine, Mr. Akhmetov has distanced himself from his pro-Russian past, which included financial backing for the Kremlin-supported and corrupt former president Viktor Yanukovych. Mr. Akhmetov’s purchase of the Luminance is a throwback to that world.

Luminance is being built by Lürssen, the German company that also built the Scheherazade, the superyacht that United States officials say is linked to Vladimir V. Putin, Russia’s president. Italian authorities announced earlier this month that they had impounded that yacht. The two vessels also share the same construction manager, Imperial Yachts, a Monaco-based company that counts many Russian oligarchs as customers.

But Luminance is about 15 feet longer than the $700 million Scheherazade. That kind of money is almost enough for Ukraine to buy two new German-built attack submarines and is about the cost of a top-of-the-line Baden-Württemberg-class naval frigate, a warship armed with guns and missiles that Lürssen also helps to build. A spokesman for Lürssen did not comment.

Mr. Akhmetov’s holding corporation, System Capital Management, controls companies in a wide range of industries, including television stations, wind farms, electrical grids, chemical plants and the now famous Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.

Mr. Mendoza-Wilson said that Mr. Akhmetov had signed the contract to build the yacht in 2018. But the work continued well after the Russian invasion began this February, according to a person who has worked at one of the many companies with contracts to help build the vessel. The employee, who asked for anonymity because he did not want to subject his colleagues to reprisals, said some of Mr. Akhmetov’s relatives had been making trips in Western Europe to go over construction details. Mr. Akhmetov has been in Ukraine during the war.

It is unclear how Mr. Akhmetov could sell a vessel that is still under construction or back out of the contract that he signed. But a person who is working on the Luminance project, speaking anonymously because he signed a nondisclosure agreement, said the best time for him to sell might be when the ship is finished and ready to be delivered, because a potential buyer could take possession of a new yacht without the hassles involved in negotiating contracts and years of waiting while the vessel is being built. One industry estimate said the ship would be done next year.

“The best time to sell a boat is the day before it launches,” the person said.

Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting.

Michael Forsythe is a reporter on the investigations team. He was previously a correspondent in Hong Kong, covering the intersection of money and politics in China. He has also worked at Bloomberg News and is a United States Navy veteran. More about Michael Forsythe

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

Ahead of the U.S. elections, Russia is intensifying efforts to elevate candidates  who oppose aid for Ukraine and support isolationism, disinformation experts say.

President Vladimir Putin said that claims Russia planned to invade other countries were “nonsense,” but warned them against hosting  warplanes meant for Ukraine.

A large-scale Russian missile and drone attack damaged power plants  and caused blackouts for more than a million Ukrainians in what Ukrainian officials said was one of the war’s largest assaults on energy infrastructure.

Symbolism or Strategy?: Ukrainians say that defending places with little strategic value is worth the cost in casualties and weapons , because the attacking Russians pay an even higher price. American officials aren’t so sure.

Elaborate Tales: As the Ukraine war grinds on, the Kremlin has created increasingly complex fabrications online  to discredit Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, and undermine the country’s support in the West.

Targeting Russia’s Oil Industry: With its army short of ammunition and troops to break the deadlock on the battlefield, Kyiv has increasingly taken the fight beyond the Ukrainian border, attacking oil infrastructure deep in Russian territory .

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .

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Documents show Putin’s order to move superyacht before Ukraine invasion

Russian president ordered urgent removal of Graceful from Hamburg shipyard, investigation claims

Vladimir Putin moved his $100m (£75m) superyacht from a German shipyard to Russia just weeks before he ordered the invasion of Ukraine, according to secret documents released in a new investigation.

A Russian anti-corruption organisation set up by the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny claims emails show that the Russian president ordered the urgent moving of the 82-metre superyacht, called Graceful, from a shipyard in Hamburg, where it was undergoing a $32m refit, by 1 February 2022.

Photos show the ship being towed out of Hamburg on 7 February en route to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, after the shipyard missed the 1 February deadline.

Just 15 days later – on 22 February – Putin ordered the full-blown invasion of Ukraine. After the invasion, the US, UK and EU imposed sanctions on Russian-owned assets overseas, and dozens of oligarch-owned superyachts were seized across the world.

The US government’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) lists the Graceful as “blocked property in which President Vladimir Putin has an interest”.

The Graceful, also codenamed Kosatka, or Killer Whale, which features a 15-metre indoor swimming pool that can be converted into a dancefloor, is just one of several superyachts linked to Putin.

An email sent to Hamburg’s Blohm+Voss shipyard on 19 January 2022 said: “The owner wants the Graceful to be brought to the Russian Federation on February 1st … Please mobilise an uninterrupted crew – 2 shifts.” It continued: “Please accelerate all works which may interfere with Graceful sailing out on 01 February.”

The emails said the owner wanted to remove the boat to the Russian Federation to complete the works. “The owner is not happy with the retrofit. He is dissatisfied with the delays in the construction process,” the email from SCF Group, Russia’s largest shipping company, said. The work had been expected to take more than a year.

The emails are disclosed in a report by Russian investigative journalist Maria Pevchikh, who leads an anti-corruption foundation set up by Navalny.

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“Half of the country is forced to raise money for underwear and socks for mobilised soldiers, and to make trench candles, while the person who unleashed this war spends 3bn roubles just on repairs and purchases for his yacht,” her report states .

Putin’s largest superyacht, the $700m Scheherazade, has been impounded in the Italian port of Marina di Carrara, where it was undergoing repairs. He is also named by the US as the owner of a smaller superyacht called Olympia, valued at $22m.

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How Might the War in Ukraine Impact the Superyacht Industry?

• Posted 03-02-2022
• Worldwide  
• Industry  

With war now raging in Ukraine and international governments posing heavy sanctions on Russian companies and oligarchs, questions are being raised about how this war in Europe may impact the superyacht industry. With superyacht crew already being displaced and the supply chain coming under pressure, we take a look at the possible toll on the superyacht industry and all of those who work within it.

Russian owners made up 9% of all superyacht owners in 2021, making them the second largest ownership country behind the United States. While by region Eastern European owners, including Russian and Ukrainian, make up 18%. Russian owners are also the second largest owners of new-build yachts, with 13.2% of the market share of new-build superyachts over 40 metres in 2021-2025 (according to SYT iQ). The Head of Intelligence at SYT wrote in 2021: “The US, Russia, Turkey and the UK remain the most important buyer nations for in-build superyachts over 40 metres,” and this is thrown into a stark light when we consider the possible impact of this war on the yachting industry.

With 9% of the market share and some of the largest superyachts in the world (14.7% by volume in 2021), clearly their financial contribution to the industry is significant, particularly in the case of Northern European shipyards. As further sanctions are introduced, will they be able to continue the build of yachts due for launch in the coming years? If not, will we see a number of partially completed 60 metre-plus hulls returning to the market in an echoing of the events following the 2008 financial crisis? There is also an ethical question here about whether shipbuilders will choose to continue their work with Russian owners.

But it is not only the new-build market that could be hit. As yachts prepare to return to the water in the coming months ahead of the Mediterranean season, some are speculating that refit yards will be burdened with yachts whose refits have not been paid for. As of today, a number of the largest Russian yachts in the world are sitting in harbours and shipyards across the Mediterranean and questions about their possible seizure continue to raise concerns.

Brokers are also concerned about the knock-on impact this could have on the market as a whole, and whether uncertainty about the world economy will make potential owners more cautious of investing in superyachts.

So what are the sanctions and how else could they impact yachting?

While the list and severity of sanctions on Russia are changing, the nations within NATO and the EU, as well as Japan, Switzerland, Australia and Taiwan, have all hit Russia with injunctions. Among the most severe sanctions is the banning of the Russian banks from the SWIFT payment network. As a consequence the Russian stock market and currency has plummeted, with the Ruble dropping by more than 30% in value. 

While this is happening, many countries are freezing the assets of Russian owned companies and oligarchs. The White House tweeted this statement on Wednesday "This coming week, we will launch a multilateral Trans-Atlantic task force to identify, hunt down, and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs - their yachts, their mansions, and any other ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law." As a result, many Russian-owned superyachts are leaving contentious waters and heading for locations where they are less likely to face seizure, including the Maldives. 

As these actions progress they could impact the charter market, where a number of Russian owned vessels are among the most coveted charter yachts in the world. A discussion currently on the table among charter brokers is whether owners will put yachts into charter in order to pay crew and vessel fees. Whether charterers will wish to charter Russian-owned yachts is another question.

On the ground

Recent events have raised concerns about the position of superyacht crew, many of whom come from Eastern Europe and may have family and friends directly impacted by the war. We have already seen a Ukrainian crew member act against a Russian owner this week when the  chief engineer aboard Lady Anastasia opened the sea valves in an attempt to sink the 47.73-metre vessel . Elsewhere stories are emerging of yachts being abandoned by crew.

There are also questions being raised about how best to protect crew working on Russian and Ukrainian yachts in the case of owners falling into financial difficulties. The Nautilus International institute, the union for seafarers, is urging crew members to get in touch in the case that sanctions imposed on owners impact their salaries. 

Beyond possible payment issues caused by sanctions, it is also likely that crew from all over the world will no longer wish to work on Russian owned yachts. Facebook groups dedicated to Russian-speaking crew have been inundated with messages of support for Ukrainian colleagues, but also with Russian crew looking for new positions. One Facebook group called ‘Russian speaking yacht crew’ has shut down, with the founder citing “In light of recent events, this group should no longer exist.” 

Crewing agencies have widely bemoaned the lack of experienced crew over the past year; the possibility that Russian owned yachts will have even greater difficulty finding crew members raises concerns about whether some yachts will be operable. Crew safety is also in question and the publication of yacht owners’ occupations, home addresses and yacht names is adding kindling to the flames. With vandalisation of Russian owned assets beginning to be seen, some crew members may be at risk. 

With the condemnation of Russian supporters being widely shared across the globe and international corporations shutting down business with Russia, other firms have begun to boycott Russian owned yachts. Stories are emerging of companies refusing to distribute supplies to superyachts. If true, this will impact those yachts put into charter as owners and management teams attempt to use charter as a means to allay costs. 

While this story continues to develop, the implications – both ethical and practical – for the superyacht industry and all those who work within it will become pronounced and possibly more divisive. 

Article Author: Francesca Webster

Article URL: https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/how-might-the-war-in-ukraine-impact-the-superyacht-industry

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In One Massive Attack, Ukrainian Missiles Hit Four Russian Ships—Including Three Landing Vessels

But Russian landing ships no longer are high-value targets

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'Kostiantyn Olshansky' in Ukrainian service.

The Ukrainian missile raid on the Russian Black Sea Fleet’s anchorage in Sevastopol, in occupied Crimea, didn’t hit two Russian warships .

No, according to an update from Ukrainian authorities , the Sunday raid—involving either air-launched Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles or ground-launched Neptunes or a mix of all three—struck four Russian ships.

The damaged vessels purportedly include two active Ropucha -class landing ships— Yamal and Azov —as well as an inactive Ropucha named Kostiantyn Olshansky that Russia captured from Ukraine during the invasion of Crimea in 2014. The fourth victim is an intelligence vessel, Ivan Hurs , that 10 months ago survived an attack by Ukrainian drone boats.

While satellite imagery of Sevastopol, registered in the days following the raid, seems to confirm damage to several vessels, it doesn’t point to any obvious sinkings. It’s possible all four of the ships the Ukrainians claim they hit—reportedly in Sevastopol’s repair yard, ironically—are fixable.

But the raid at least temporarily has reduced, by 15 percent or so, the Black Sea Fleet’s pre-war force of around a dozen landing ships. A year ago, when the Russian garrison in southern Ukraine heavily depended on sea lines of communication to move ammunition to front-line regiments and brigades, that might have been a very big problem for the Kremlin.

But Russian engineers recently completed a new railroad that connects Rostov, in southern Russia, to Mariupol in occupied southern Ukraine—obviating the need for high-volume sea shipments to sustain Russia’s troops along Ukraine’s southern front. Railroads, which are fairly easy to repair, are harder to interdict than ships are.

All that is to say, strikes on Russian landing ships aren’t as damaging to Moscow’s war effort as they previously might have been. But given a choice between destroying or damaging Russian ships and not destroying or damaging Russian ships, the Ukrainians surely would choose the former.

In two years of hard fighting, the Ukrainians have damaged or sunk, using missiles and explosives-laden drone boats , seven active Ropucha s plus one Tapir -class landing vessel . They also have destroyed—of the Black Sea Fleet’s original three-dozen large ships—a cruiser, a submarine , a supply vessel, several patrol boats and two missile-corvettes and also damaged a spy ship.

At this rate, the Black Sea Fleet could cease to function in another 18 months or two years. And there’s not much the wider Russian navy can do to halt this steady degradation, as it can’t reinforce the Black Sea Fleet with large ships.

Bigger vessels that can’t move by land or river must pass through the Bosporus Strait to enter the Black Sea. Turkey controls the strait and doesn’t allow combatants to transit during wartime.

1. Ukrainian StratCom: https://twitter.com/AFUStratCom/status/1771820875852939399; https://twitter.com/AFUStratCom/status/1772688036146368903

2. Center for Defense Strategies: https://open.substack.com/pub/cdsdailybrief/p/russias-war-on-ukraine-26032024

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Bengue Patrick: Shefir Brothers’ Yacht purchases and call for transparency in Ukrainian leadership

U kraine, a nation fighting a battle of its survival and coupled with navigating the complex waters of political and economic challenges, has also recently found itself at the centre of a controversy that raises serious questions about the priorities of its leadership.

In the midst of Ukraine’s ongoing leadership challenges, the recent purchase of a luxury yacht by the Shefir Brothers has become a topic of intense scrutiny and debate. The Shefir Brothers, known for their influential roles in the business and political spheres, have raised eyebrows with their conspicuous display of wealth during a time of political uncertainty and economic instability.

An investigative report reveals that two key figures reportedly associated with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky have recently acquired extravagant yachts, one in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and the other in Antibes, France, during October 2023.

Boris and Serhiy Shefir, perceived to be Zelensky’s proxies, are reported to have spent a combined total of $75 million on these purchases. Concerns are raised about potential corruption and the appropriate utilisation of Western financial aid intended to support Ukraine’s defence capabilities amid the ongoing military conflict with Russia.

The purchase of a yacht, often seen as a symbol of opulence and extravagance, sends a message that seems out of touch with the current socio-political climate in Ukraine. As the country grapples with pressing issues such as corruption, economic reforms, and geopolitical tensions, the Shefir Brothers’ decision to invest in such a lavish acquisition raises questions about their priorities and commitment to addressing the nation’s challenges

Journalist Shahzad Nasir exposed significant details surrounding the recent yacht acquisitions.

According to documents, Ukrainian citizens Serhiy and Boris Shefir were said to have procured two yachts, named “Lucky Me” and “My Legacy,” situated in Abu Dhabi and Antibes, respectively, within a few days of each other. Nasir provides documentation confirming the purchase of the 46-meter Italian-made yacht “Lucky Me” for $25 million by Boris Shefir on October 18, 2023. Subsequently, Serhiy Shefir, Zelensky’s long-standing first assistant, is reported to have acquired the $50 million yacht “My Legacy” a week later.

The Shefir brothers, known for their close personal and professional ties to President Zelensky, share a hometown in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, and jointly founded the successful TV entertainment production company “Kvartal-95 Studio.” They are regarded as trusted confidants and friends of President Zelensky.

Recent yacht acquisitions by the Shefir brothers raise concerns about the potential misuse of Western financial aid, suggesting that Zelensky’s associates may be acting as proxies to conceal his involvement in such expenditures. Despite efforts by Western countries to enforce stringent controls on financial aid to Ukraine, opportunities for embezzlement persist. Given Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, the significant expenditures by Zelensky’s inner circle warrant a comprehensive investigation into the use of funds.

Also, critics argue that the timing of this alleged extravagant purchase reflects a lack of sensitivity to the struggles faced by ordinary Ukrainians. The optics of political figures indulging in luxury acquisitions while the public contends with economic hardships can

erode trust in the leadership and fuel public resentment. This move by the Shefir Brothers may inadvertently contribute to a perception of elitism, exacerbating the existing divide between the ruling class and the broader population

This yacht purchase underscores the need for increased transparency and accountability within Ukraine’s political and business circles. As the country strives for democratic stability and strives to shed its reputation for corruption, the actions of influential figures, like the Shefir Brothers, should be subject to thorough scrutiny. Transparency not only ensures public trust but also sets a precedent for responsible and ethical leadership.

The Shefir Brothers’ acquisition of a luxury yacht amid Ukraine’s leadership challenges raises significant concerns about their priorities and the overall state of governance. At a time when the nation needs steadfast and responsible leadership, the optics of indulging in extravagance are damaging.

This incident highlights the imperative for leaders to be mindful of their actions and the message they convey to the public, especially during periods of political turbulence and economic uncertainty.

Bengue Patrick Mankis, wrote from Yaoundé, Cameroon.

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Ukraine Yacht

A Ukraine yacht is a big statement in that part of the world. The Ukraine is washed by two seas, the Black and the Azov Sea. Through the Ukrainian territory runs one of the largest rivers in Europe, the Dnepr River. The number of sea and river ports amounts to dozens. The Ukraine has every opportunity to become one of the largest naval countries in the region; unfortunately, it is still too early in the game for it to be all that optimistic.

Shestakov Yacht Sales: Your Best Source for a Yacht in Ukraine

Yacht sales in the Ukraine are good, and there are all types of vessels for sale from large cruise ships, capable of crossing the Atlantic, to smaller vessels designed for river voyages. Yachts with both motors and sails are equally popular here, and the selection is limitless. This country is not without many issues of its own. For instance, the shipbuilding industry is struggling and in very poor economic condition. Manufacturing has been reduced to half its size since the fall of the Soviet Union, with the majority of shipyards closing their doors. Nevertheless, some shipbuilding companies are still functioning, and most of them are located in port of Nikolayev. A yacht in the Ukraine is therefore less likely to be locally manufactured.

If you are planning to buy a Ukraine yacht, it is best to visit Nikolayev, Odessa, Kherson, Dnepropetrovsk or Mariupol. All are big ports that have numerous yachts offered for sale. If you are only considering a new vessel, here you will only find smaller cruisers and motor boats. In case you are interested in purchasing a larger yacht, you can order it from one of the Ukrainian shipyards, however most buyers prefer the European collection. The pre-owned market is much larger, and any of the ports will have something for sale. The rental services are also growing. Cruises in the Black or Azov Sea will be gladly organized at a relatively moderate rate.

Contact Us Today About a Yacht in Ukraine

A yacht broker with Ukraine yacht information will be readily available to assist you in your purchase, in case travelling to a port city is not an option. All you will have to do is search the listings and narrow down your choices. The broker will protect your interest, take care of all documentation, and insure a successful and swift delivery.

Learn more on the “Yacht Sales in Ukraine”

To learn more on the “Yacht Sales in Ukraine” or to get advice on how to buy or sell a yacht or get a great price for a yacht charter, please call: +1-954-274-4435 (USA)

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In this image taken from video released by the National Transportation and Safety Board, the cargo ship Dali is stuck under part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after the ship hit the bridge, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP)

No, the captain of the container ship that hit the bridge in Baltimore wasn’t Ukrainian

If your time is short.

When The Dali hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge, a crew of 22 Indian nationals were aboard, according to a spokesperson for Synergy Marine Group, the company that manages the vessel. 

We found no evidence that the captain during the March 26 incident was from Ukraine.

The ship was being directed by local pilots at the time of the collapse. 

Here’s how PolitiFact chooses which statements to fact-check.

Officials briefed on the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse say there’s no credible evidence the container ship’s collision with the bridge’s support column was a terrorist attack or an intentional act . 

But that hasn’t stopped social media users from questioning who was in charge of the ship when the incident happened.

"You won’t believe who is the captain of the ship that collapsed the bridge in Baltimore," an X user wrote March 26 in a post that contained punctuation errors. "The captain of the container ship Dali, who demolished the bridge today. Francis Scott, is a Ukrainian."

The post included a screenshot of a website showing information about a 52-year-old man whose name began with the letters "Se." The rest of the name is obscured. Ukraine was listed as the unknown person’s citizenship and nationality. The information also said the man had "experience on container ships."

(Screenshot from X.)

But claims that this anonymous Ukrainian was in charge of the container ship that hit the bridge March 26 are inaccurate. 

That container ship was a Signaporean-flagged vessel called Dali that is managed by Synergy Marine Group. The ship was leaving Baltimore and heading to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a 22-person crew, according to Synergy Marine Group . 

Singapore’s Maritime Port Authority, which is investigating the collision, also said there were 22 crew members on board the Dali. 

The captain’s identity has not been released, but we found no evidence to support claims that he was from Ukraine. The Dali’s crew was from India. 

"I can confirm, all 22 crew members onboard the ship were Indian nationals," said Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine Group. 

The company also confirmed that although a minor injury had been reported, all members of the crew were safe as of March 27.

False claims about the captain’s nationality stemmed from information people found on the website BalticShipping.com. 

The image shared in the X post was a screenshot from the website. People who searched for information about the Dali on BalticShipping.com appeared to have scrutinized the previous "seafarers" who’d worked on the vessel. One of those previous crew members was Ukrainian.

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Shayan Sardarizadeh, a BBC journalist, said in a March 26 X post that "online records show a Ukrainian man was the Dali’s captain from March to July 2016." 

We were unable to independently verify this, because the Ukrainian man’s information no longer appears under the "worked on" tab on Dali’s BalticShipping.com page. 

The change prompted some commenters to write that "they deleted that the ship was operated by a Ukrainian" and claim that they could "smell a cover-up."

But other commenters rebutted the claims: To all the people commenting about a Ukrainian captain, one wrote, "when his profile was available on (the) web page, you could download his CV where you’d see that his last contract on Dali was way back in 2016." 

Sardarizadeh, who covers disinformation, said this false narrative had been pushed by "pro-Kremlin influencers." The person who made the post on X that we’re fact-checking describes himself as "a Russian internet communicator, blogger." 

At the time of the collision with the bridge, the ship was also being directed by local pilots . There were two pilots, according to news reports — one with more than 10 years of experience and an apprentice who’d started his training in February. Their nationality is unknown. 

Wilson explained that pilots are local experts who know the area and harbor and guide commercial ships in and out. 

"The Pilot is the chief person, duly qualified, to navigate ships into or out of a harbor or through certain difficult waters," reads the Association of Maryland Pilots’ website . "The Pilot’s familiarity with the water that is being traversed allows the ship to be safely navigated to its port." 

Foreign-flagged ships like the Dali are required to have local pilots to guide them in and out of U.S. ports, The Washington Post reported .

We reached out to the Association of Maryland Pilots and the American Pilots’ Association but received no response.

An X post claimed the captain of the container ship Dali that hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge check "is a Ukrainian."

The ship had a crew of 22 Indian nationals, according to a spokesperson for the company that manages the vessel. Two local pilots, one with 10 years of experience and a new apprentice, were also helping direct the ship out of the port when it collided with the bridge. 

We found no evidence the captain on board that night was Ukrainian, so we rate these claims False.

RELATED: Edited Wikipedia entry doesn’t prove Israel caused the Baltimore bridge collapse

RELATED: Maryland bridge collapse a false flag event? No, authorities say it was an accident

Our Sources

Post on X, March 26, 2024

Phone interview with Darrell Wilson, a spokesperson for Synergy Marine Group, March 27, 2024

CNN, Who was piloting the ship? A local pilot , March 26, 2024

The Washington Post, Pilot on board the Dali tried to slow ship before it struck Key Bridge , March 26, 2024

CNN, ‘Black box’ data recorder recovered from ship that struck Baltimore bridge as recovery efforts continue , March 27, 2024

Synergy Marine Group, "DALI", Francis Scott Key Bridge Incident , March 27, 2024

The Baltimore Banner, No, it’s not WWIII: Experts say bridge collapse ‘almost certainly not’ planned attack , March 26, 2024

FBI, FBI Baltimore Statement on Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse , March 27, 2024

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland, Statement of U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron Regarding the Collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore , March 26, 2024

The New York Times, Coast Guard Ends Search for 6 Missing in Bridge Disaster , March 26, 2024

Shayan Sardarizadeh post on X, March 26, 2024

NPR, The Baltimore bridge collapse gave conspiracy theorists a chance to boost themselves , March 27, 2024

BalticShipping.com, DALI, IMO 9697428 , accessed March 27, 2024

Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Investigators from the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau and MPA are making their way to Baltimore, Maryland , March 26, 2024 

X user’s profile , March 27, 2024

Association of Maryland Pilots, What is a Pilot? accessed March 27, 2024

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Explainer: Why did the Baltimore bridge collapse and what is the death toll?

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What ship hit the baltimore bridge, what do we know about the bridge that collapsed.

HOW WILL THE BRIDGE COLLAPSE IMPACT THE BALTIMORE PORT?

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Massive crane put in place to clear Baltimore bridge debris as crews assess damage

The biggest operational crane on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard towered over Baltimore's port on Friday, ready to begin clearing the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge days after a cargo ship crashed into it, sending the span crashing into the harbor.

Cuban Roman Catholics held public processions across the Communist-run country on Friday to mark Good Friday, but there was at least one exception in Havana where 150 of the faithful were relegated to the church parking lot.

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Good Friday

Captain of container ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse is Indian, not Ukrainian

India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday that the crew members of the cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore are in “good shape and good health.” (Mar 28).

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CLAIM: The captain of Dali, the container ship that crashed into Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, is Ukrainian.

AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. A Ukrainian man who was listed on a maritime jobs database as captaining Dali for about five months in 2016 is being erroneously blamed for the incident online. The Dali’s captain and crew are Indian, Synergy Marine Group, the company that manages the ship, told The Associated Press. There were two pilots — local specialists who help guide vessels safely in and out of ports — navigating Dali at the time of the collision . Both are U.S. citizens, according to Synergy.

THE FACTS: Following the crash that caused Key Bridge to collapse early Tuesday, social media users shared a screenshot of a webpage they said identified Dali’s captain.

The screenshot, taken on the BalticShipping.com database, shows two seafarers listed as having worked on Dali , including a 52-year-old Ukrainian man who it says applied for the role of master, or captain.

“The captain of the ship that hit the bridge in Baltimore is Ukrainian,” reads one X post, sharing the screenshot. “Is he upset with the aid delay? Or just unlucky?”

But Synergy told the AP that Dali’s captain and crew at the time of the collision were Indian.

Dali was being piloted out of Baltimore when it struck Key Bridge, the company wrote in a statement on Tuesday. Synergy told the AP that both pilots were U.S. citizens. One of the pilots was an apprentice observing a licensed pilot, said Clay Diamond , executive director and general counsel for the American Pilots Association.

The ship was headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, and flying under a Singapore flag, according to data from Marine Traffic . Every foreign-flagged ship coming into U.S. water must have a state-licensed pilot on board. Pilots board the ships before they enter the local waterways and take navigational control, meaning they give orders for the ship’s speed and direction.

In a summary of his work history on BalticShipping.com, the Ukrainian man seen in the screenshot spreading online was listed as master, or captain, of Dali from March 19, 2016, to July 27, 2016. According to the summary, Dali flew under a Marshall Islands flag at the time and was managed by a Greek company called Oceanbulk Maritime.

The Ukrainian man’s BalticShipping.com listing had been removed from the site as of Tuesday evening.

After losing power, Dali crashed into one of Key Bridge’s pillars about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, causing the structure to break apart and crumple within seconds into the Patapsco River. Both the FBI and U.S. Attorney Erek Barron, Maryland’s top prosecutor, say there are no signs of terrorism .

Six construction workers who were filling potholes on the bridge when it collapsed are still unaccounted for and presumed dead, the AP has reported . Two people were rescued from the water on Tuesday.

The collapse is expected to create a logistical nightmare for months, if not years, in the region, shutting down ship traffic at the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. It will also snarl cargo and commuter traffic.

Opened in 1977, Key Bridge was named for the writer of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” ___ This is part of the AP’s effort to address widely shared false and misleading information that is circulating online. Learn more about fact-checking at AP .

Russia's new river patrol force will likely have the same explosive problem battering its Black Sea Fleet, Western intel says

• Russia's top general announced the formation of a new Dnipro River patrol force last week.
• Western intelligence says these troops will likely be vulnerable to Ukraine's fleet of drone boats.
• Kyiv has used these exploding naval drones to wreak havoc on Russia's Black Sea Fleet.  

Russia's new river patrol force could be vulnerable to the same exploding naval drones that Ukraine has used to wreak havoc on Moscow's Black Sea Fleet, according to Western intelligence.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu last week announced the formation of the Dnipro River "Flotilla" and a "riverboat brigade" as part of a larger effort to bolster Moscow's forces by the end of the year.  

Britain's defense ministry said the new formation "will likely be responsible for securing" the Dnipro's strategic waterways and islands that separate Ukrainian-controlled and Russian-occupied territory in the southern Kherson region.

The Dnipro was long a natural barrier preventing Ukrainian forces in Kherson from advancing south across the river and into the Russian-occupied territory, but this area has experienced combat flare-ups in recent months.

"Russia likely wants to prevent and deny Ukrainian cross-river operations, such as the operation to establish and maintain the Krynky bridgehead," Britain's defense ministry wrote in a Wednesday intelligence update .

Krynky is a small village on the eastern bank of the Dnipro, near the city of Kherson, where Ukrainian forces established a bridgehead , or strong foothold, in the fall. Kyiv has since sought to expand its presence there, leading to intense fighting — and heavy troop and equipment losses on both sides. Over the past few weeks in particular, Ukraine has managed to repel heavy assaults by the Russians around Krynky.

It's not immediately clear if Moscow's new river patrol formation is a direct result of these recent developments, but either way, these forces will probably not be sailing into uncontested waters.

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"The Dnipro Flotilla will likely be vulnerable to Ukrainian uncrewed surface vehicles which have been effective in destroying Russian vessels operating in the Black Sea," Britain's defense ministry said.

Ukraine turned to uncrewed surface vehicles, or USVs, after Russia launched its full-scale invasion to make up for the fact that it didn't have a proper navy of its own. These systems are essentially just small drone boats packed with explosives and have proven to be an innovative solution for Kyiv in the maritime battle space.

Ukraine has relied on USVs, along with cruise missiles developed domestically and provided by the country's Western partners, to wreak havoc on Russia's Black Sea Fleet — damaging or destroying roughly a third of its warships since the war started — and unblock a key maritime corridor in the region, which is crucial to supporting Kyiv's economy.

This asymmetric style of warfare has compelled Russia to undertake some additional defensive measures , like adding machine gun crews on its ships and increasing aerial patrols, but Moscow has ultimately proven that it's incapable of consistently defending against the threat.

In some cases, the Kremlin has relocated some elements of the Black Sea Fleet to Russian ports and away from its vulnerable headquarters in Sevastopol, a city in the occupied Crimean peninsula.

Because the fleet is now mainly operating in the eastern Black Sea and farther away from the Kherson region, Russia's new Dnipro formation will likely assume its river patrolling responsibilities, British intelligence said on Wednesday.

While it's unclear what sort of manpower or capabilities the river patrol force will have, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War think tank suggested that Russia could end up using it to support its own cross-river raids into the western bank of the Dnipro river, which is controlled by Ukraine.

And although the flotilla may not have the capabilities needed to support a large footprint in the western bank or the reoccupation of Ukrainian territory, it could be enough to pin down critical resources that Kyiv needs elsewhere, the analysts wrote in a March 20 assessment .

The deployment of the flotilla, they said, "may force the Ukrainian command to make challenging decisions about resource attribution as it husbands limited stores of artillery ammunition and other critical military equipment."

Watch: Video of Russian naval ship explosion shows a much-needed win for Ukraine

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Baltimore bridge collapse wasn't first major accident for giant container ship Dali

Propulsion failed on the cargo ship that struck the Francis Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday as it was leaving port, causing it to collapse into the frigid Patapsco River. Its crew warned Maryland officials of a possible collision because they had lost control.

“The vessel notified MD Department of Transportation (MDOT) that they had lost control of the vessel” and a collision with the bridge “was possible,” according to an unclassified Department of Homeland Security report. “The vessel struck the bridge causing a complete collapse.”

An official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed to USA TODAY that the DHS’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is working with federal, state, and local officials “to understand the potential impacts of this morning’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.”

Clay Diamond, executive director, American Pilots’ Association, told USA TODAY power issues are not unusual on cargo ships, which are so large they cannot easily course correct.

“It’s likely that virtually every pilot in the country has experienced a power loss of some kind (but) it generally is momentary,” Diamond said. “This was a complete blackout of all the power on the ship, so that’s unusual. Of course this happened at the worst possible location.” 

The ship in Tuesday's crash, Dali, was involved in at least one prior accident when it collided with a shipping pier in Belgium.

That 2016 incident occurred as the Dali was leaving port in Antwerp and struck a loading pier made of stone, causing damage to the ship’s stern, according to VesselFinder.com, a site that tracks ships across the world. An investigation determined a mistake made by the ship’s master and pilot was to blame.

No one was injured in that crash, although the ship required repair and a full inspection before being returned to service. The pier – or berth – was also seriously damaged and had to be closed.

VesselFinder reports that the Dali was chartered by Maersk, the same company chartering it during the Baltimore harbor incident.

The 9-year-old container ship had passed previous inspections during its time at sea, but during one such inspection in June at the Port of San Antonio in Chile, officials discovered a deficiency with its "propulsion and auxiliary machinery (gauges, thermometers, etc)," according to the Tokyo MOU, an intergovernmental maritime authority in the Asia-Pacific region.

The report provided no other information about the deficiency except to note that it was not serious enough to remove the ship from service.

Follow here for live updates: Baltimore's Key Bridge collapses after ship strike; construction crew missing: Live Updates

Why did Dali crash into the Baltimore bridge?

Officials said Tuesday they’re investigating the collision, including whether systems on board lost electricity early Tuesday morning, which could be related to mechanical failure, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Accidents at sea, known as marine casualties, are not uncommon, the source told USA TODAY. However, “allisions,” in which a moving object strikes a stationary one with catastrophic results, are far less common. The investigation of the power loss aboard the Dali, a Singapore-flagged vessel, will be a high priority.

In a video posted to social media, lights on the Dali shut off, then turned back on, then shut off again before the ship struck a support pier on the bridge.

Numerous cargo and cruise ships have lost power over the years.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea requires all international vessels to have two independent sources of electricity, both of which should be able to maintain the ship's seaworthiness on their own, according to a safety study about power failures on ships , citing the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

The Dali's emergency generator was likely responsible for the lights coming back on after the initial blackout, Diamond said.

“There was still some steerage left when they initially lost power,” he said. “We’ve been told the ship never recovered propulsion. The emergency generator is a diesel itself – so if you light off the generator, that’s also going to put off a puff of exhaust.”

Under maritime law, all foreign flagged vessels must be piloted into state ports by a state licensed pilot so the Dali's pilot is licensed by Association of Maryland Pilots .

Diamond described the incident based on information from the Maryland agency that licensed the pilot aboard the ship. His organization represents that group and all other state piloting agencies in the US.

“The pilot was directing navigation of the ship as it happened,” he said. “He asked the captain to get the engines back online. They weren’t able to do that, so the pilot took all the action he could. He tried to steer, to keep the ship in the channel. He also dropped the ship’s anchor to slow the ship and guide the direction.

“Neither one was enough. The ship never did regain its engine power.”

How big is the Dali ship?

The Dali is a 984-foot container vessel built in 2015 by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. With a cruising speed of about 22 knots – roughly 25 mph. It has traveled the world carrying goods from port to port.

The ship, constructed of high-strength steel, has one engine and one propeller, according to MarineTraffic.com.

The Dali arrived in Baltimore on Sunday from the Port of Norfolk in Virginia. Before that, it had been in New York and came through the Panama Canal.

It remains at the scene of the collapse as authorities investigate.

Who owns and operates the Dali?

It is owned by the Singapore-based Grace Ocean Pte Ltd but managed by Synergy Marine Group, also based in Singapore. It was carrying Maersk customers’ cargo, according to a statement from the shipping company.

“We are deeply concerned by this incident and are closely monitoring the situation,” Maersk said in the statement. 

Synergy, which describes itself as a leading ship manager with more than 600 vessels under its guidance, issued a statement on its website acknowledging the incident and reporting no injuries among its crew and no pollution in the water. There were two pilots on board and 22 crew members in all, according to Synergy, all of them from India.

USA TODAY reached out to Synergy on Tuesday, but the company did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Contributing: Josh Susong

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The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapses, 6 feared dead

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In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images hide caption

In an aerial view, the cargo ship Dali sits in the water after running into and collapsing the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday.

At least six people are presumed dead following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, officials said.

The bridge fell into the Patapsco River after it was struck by a nearly 1,000-foot-long container ship, sending several people plunging into the frigid waters below.

During a news update Tuesday evening, the U.S. Coast Guard told reporters they are ending an active search and rescue operation for the six people left unaccounted for at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said that based on the length of time since the bridge collapsed and the water temperatures, they don't believe that search teams are going to find any of these individuals still alive.

More from WYPR in Baltimore:

• Construction worker says friends, colleagues missing in bridge collapse
• Federal government pledges full support to rebuild FSK bridge, reopen port

For the latest from member station WYPR in Baltimore head to wypr.org

Gilreath told reporters that the Coast Guard is not leaving, but is going to "transition to a different phase."

The recovery phase will begin at 6 a.m. local time Wednesday when divers will begin searching for remains of all missing victims , Gilreath said.

Col. Roland L. Butler, Jr., Secretary of Maryland State Police, told reporters the conditions have changed and made it dangerous for first responders and divers to be in the water.

He emphasized that police will still have surface ships out in the water overnight.

"We're hoping to put those divers in the water and begin a more detailed search to do our very best to recover those six missing people," Butler said.

The collision set off a rapid search-and-rescue operation. Eight people from a construction crew that was working to repair potholes on the bridge are thought to have fallen into the water, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld told reporters.

Authorities did not believe any drivers were submerged in their cars, Wiedefeld said.

The bridge collapsed instantly

Eyepress/Reuters

The bridge, which is part of Interstate 695, collapsed around 1:30 a.m. when it was struck by a massive cargo vessel named the Dali. Dramatic video of the collision shows the hulking ship–the length of more than three football fields– slamming into one of the bridge's pillars, and then an expanse of the bridge falling into the water instantly.

The Dali, a Singapore-flagged ship, had left Baltimore at 1 a.m. and was bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to Marine Traffic , a maritime data site.

The Picture Show

Photos: baltimore's key bridge collapses; search and rescue efforts continue.

Synergy Marine Group, the company that manages the ship, said in a statement that all 22 crew members are accounted for and that there were no injuries resulting from the crash. The company also said there was no pollution to the water.

In a briefing for the media, Moore said the crew of the container ship had notified authorities about a power outage onboard shortly before the collision. The crew notified authorities of "a power issue," Moore said, confirming earlier reports that they had lost power on the ship.

The ship was traveling at approximately 8 knots when it hit the bridge, Moore said. In the immediate aftermath of the collision, officials feared motorists might be submerged in the river, but Moore said that a mayday signal was issued with enough time for authorities to stop the flow of traffic coming over the bridge.

A collapsed section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is seen in the waters of the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot-long cargo ship. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption

A collapsed section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore is seen in the waters of the Patapsco River. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday after it was struck by a 984-foot-long cargo ship.

"I have to say I'm thankful for the folks who once the warning came up, and once notification came up that there was a mayday, who literally by being able to stop cars from coming over the bridge, these people are heroes. They saved lives," Moore said.

FBI and state officials said the preliminary investigation points to an accident and that there was no credible evidence of any terrorist attack. Moore said the Francis Scott Key Bridge was fully up to code and there was no structural issue with the bridge.

"In fact, the bridge was actually fully up to code," Moore said.

The ship has had at least one previous accident

Vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest on the East Coast, was suspended "until further notice," port officials announced, as search-and-rescue operations continued and the preliminary investigation into the crash was getting underway.

"This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is closed," port officials said in a statement. "Trucks are being processed within our marine terminals."

Gov. Moore declared a state of emergency and said his office was in close communication with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. The secretary was due to arrive in Baltimore to visit the crash site and receive updates on the investigation.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, speaks during a news conference as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) looks on near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Steve Ruark/AP hide caption

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, left, speaks during a news conference as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) looks on near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it will investigate what happened, announcing on X (formerly Twitter) that it was launching a "go team" to Baltimore.

Prior to the crash, the ship had completed 27 inspections, according to a database by the maritime safety site Equasis. In one inspection at a port in Chile last year, the ship was determined to have a deficiency related to "propulsion and auxiliary machinery," according to Equasis.

In 2016, an inspection found "hull damage impairing sea worthiness" after the ship hit a dock on its way out of the port of Antwerp. Video of the incident shows the stern of the ship scraping against the quay as it attempted to exit the North Sea container terminal.

The bridge is an important travel route with a deep history

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board listen to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speak during a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Matt Rourke/AP hide caption

Members of the National Transportation Safety Board listen to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy speak during a news conference near the scene where a container ship collided with a support on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Dundalk, Md., Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

The bridge's collapse leaves Baltimore and travelers along the East Coast without a vital transit corridor for the foreseeable future. The four-lane, 1.6-mile-long bridge carries some 11.3 million vehicles each year, according to state data, and is one of three ways to get through Baltimore on the interstate.

Reconstructing the bridge will be a "long-term build," Moore told reporters.

Speaking from the White House, President Biden said he intends for the federal government to "pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge."

"We're gonna get it up and running again as soon as possible," Biden said. "Fifteen thousand jobs depend on that port, and we're gonna do everything we can to protect those jobs and help those workers."

The bridge isn't just a vital transportation route. It also has a special historical significance.

It opened to the public in March 1977, but its history goes much deeper than that. Scholars believe it stood within 100 yards of the site where its namesake, Francis Scott Key, witnessed the failed British bombardment of Fort McHenry in September 1814.

Key, an American lawyer, watched the battle from the British warship he had boarded to negotiate the release of a detained American civilian. The awe he felt at seeing the flag rise the next morning inspired him to write "Defense of Fort McHenry," which was later renamed "The Star-Spangled Banner" and became the U.S. national anthem in 1931.

Shippers are scrambling to re-route their cargo

Roughly $80 billion worth of cargo passes through the Port of Baltimore each year. But with the port's shipping channels now closed indefinitely due to the accident, shippers have been left scrambling to find alternate routes to transport their goods to and from the East Coast.

Some vessels have already been diverted to Norfolk, Va., Margie Shapiro, who runs a freight handling business in Baltimore, told NPR . Other traffic could be re-routed through New York or Philadelphia.

The Dali was being chartered by Maersk and carrying cargo for Maersk customers, the shipping giant said in a statement . The company said it would be omitting Baltimore from its services "until it is deemed safe for passage through this area."

Cargo already at the Port of Baltimore will have to travel overland, but truck traffic will also be snarled by the loss of the bridge.

"The whole ecosystem is going to be a little bit off," Shapiro said. "When the ecosystem gets messy, things get messy. Freight rates go up. The world gets a little bit chaotic."

NPR's Dave Mistich and Scott Horsley contributed to this report.

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Wife of Baltimore bridge collapse survivor says workers were on break in their cars when bridge came down

BALTIMORE — The wife of one of the construction workers who survived the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse says it’s a miracle he is alive as he doesn’t know how to swim. 

Julio Cervantes was one of eight construction workers on the bridge when the Dali cargo ship’s lights flickered on and off and crashed into a support pillar, sending the bridge into the Patapsco River in the early hours of Tuesday.

He and another man were rescued that day; the bodies of two more were recovered Wednesday. The remaining four have not been found but are presumed dead.

“All of the men were on a break in their cars when the boat hit. We don't know if they were warned before the impact,” Cervantes' wife, who did not disclose her name, told NBC News on Thursday.

Mere seconds after the Dali hit the bridge, it appeared to snap and fall into the dark water below.

“My husband doesn’t know how to swim. It is a miracle he survived,” the wife said.

Cervantes was taken to the hospital with a chest wound and was released the same day, his wife said. The other worker rescued Tuesday was in good condition and refused treatment, authorities previously said.

The remains of Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, were recovered by searchers in the Port of Baltimore on Wednesday morning. They were found in a red pickup truck trapped under 25 feet of water near what was once the middle of the bridge.

Hernandez Fuentes , 35, was from Mexico and lived in Baltimore; Castillo Cabrera, 26, was from Guatemala and lived in Dundalk, Maryland.

Cervantes' wife said that her brother-in-law was one of the two men whose bodies were recovered Wednesday, but did not share his name. She said her entire family is of Mexican origin, and her nephew is among the still missing. 

“We haven’t been able to sleep, waiting for word if they’re going to find a relative,” she said.

Audio from dispatch radio, published by Broadcastify, captured the moment police officers rushed to stop traffic and close the bridge — a move that likely saved countless lives — and called for a warning to the crew working on the bridge. 

An officer on the dispatch audio said, “I’m not sure where, there’s a crew up there you might want to notify, whoever the foreman is, see if we can get them off the bridge temporarily.” 

Another officer replied saying that once another police unit arrives, “I’ll go grab the workers on the Key Bridge.”

But it was too late. Moments later, another officer said over the radio: “The whole bridge just fell down! Start, start ... everybody. The whole thing just collapsed.”

The collapse sent shock waves across the country, sparked supply chain concerns and broke the hearts of locals who considered the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which stretches a mile-and-a-half and carries Interstate 695, a city jewel. President Joe Biden has vowed to reconstruct the bridge as soon as possible.

An investigation into what caused the crash and subsequent bridge collapse is underway by the National Transportation Safety Board. It is anticipated to take one to two years .

George Solis reported from Baltimore, and Marlene Lenthang from Los Angeles.

George Solis is a national correspondent with NBC News.

Breaking News Reporter