If you recall the accident that happened on March 26, 2024, where a 900+ foot container ship, the Dali, collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD, killing six highway workers…After the NTSB investigated the ship, they found a situation that we feel you need to be made aware of! Since wire connections are our expertise so to speak, we feel strongly about creating awareness regarding YOUR connection systems. In this specific case, wire markers were improperly applied too low around the ferrule insulation instead of above it. That particular wire was not properly secured in the terminal block (in a critical control circuit) and it was found to limit the ability of the ship to maneuver, causing the accident. The first illustration below points out how to properly affix wire markers while the second one shows what they found – a wire that was partially or barely connected to a terminal block, which affected electrical continuity in a critical control circuit. The fault occurred because the wire marker was placed AROUND the wire ferrule insulation sleeve … NOT above it on the wire.
Wire Marker applied correctly ABOVE the wire ferrule
Wire marker incorrectly applied around the insulation sleeve of the wire ferrule
Full Article HERE but below is a great quote from it:
”Our investigators routinely accomplish the impossible, and this investigation is no different,’ said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. “The Dali, at almost 1,000 feet, is as long as the Eiffel Tower is high, with miles of wiring and thousands of electrical connections. Finding this single wire was like hunting for a loose rivet on the Eiffel Tower.
“But like all of the accidents we investigate,this was preventable,” Homendy said. “Implementing NTSB recommendations in this investigation will prevent similar tragedies in the future.”
We’d like to stress that the correct use of wire ferrules (and proper wire label placement) isn’t just a nice-to-have or for convenience, it’s a fundamental safety layer.
Using the right materials reduces the chance of loose connections, intermittent faults, or complete blackouts, especially in systems with high vibration, movement, or environmental stress (like ships, plants, heavy machinery and harsh environments).
The NTSB report creates a real-world precedent and supports documentation of best practices that we should all be aware of
We hope this helps the management of your factory, shop, or process understand the importance of making quality connections and adhering to Best Practices for Electrical Assembly.
Whether it’s Connection, Protection or Wire Preparation please think of American Electrical, Inc. (AEI). FOLLOW US TO LEARN MORE ! Thanks!
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