Eight crew members of the ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore have finally returned home after being stranded on the vessel for three months. The incident, which occurred on March 26, resulted in the deaths of six repair workers and caused significant damage that required the removal of around 50,000 tonnes of wreckage before the Port of Baltimore shipping channel could fully reopen in June.

On Monday, the 948-foot Dali, aided by four tugboats, departed from Baltimore’s port with only four of the original 21 crew members on board. The ship is en route to Norfolk, Virginia, a journey expected to take 16-20 hours. Darrel Wilson, a spokesperson for the ship’s management company, Synergy Marine, confirmed that eight crew members have already returned home, with two more set to leave the U.S. soon. “Four original crew members are helping with the movement of the vessel to Norfolk,” Wilson said. “Then they will return to Baltimore.”

The original crew, primarily composed of Indian nationals, had been unable to leave the ship due to their status as witnesses and the lack of valid visas or shore passes to enter the U.S. The situation was further complicated by a petition from Baltimore that prevented them from leaving before being questioned. However, a recent agreement between the city, the ship’s owner, and its management company has allowed some crew members to depart, though they must remain available for depositions even after leaving the country.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed last month that the Dali had lost power multiple times before the crash. The U.S. Coast Guard and the FBI are continuing to investigate the incident. While the crew had already been interviewed by the Justice Department and deemed no longer necessary to remain in the U.S., the investigation persists.

Reconstruction of the bridge is projected to be completed by 2028 at an estimated cost of $1.9 billion. Baltimore city officials are resisting efforts by the Dali’s owner to limit damages to $43 million. The ongoing legal and logistical challenges underscore the complexity and severity of the March collision and its aftermath.