Date Approved

7-6-2026

Embargo Period

7-6-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S. Emergency and Threat Response Management

Department

Disaster and Emergency Sciences

College

College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Advisor

Timothy Luko, Ph.D.

Committee Member 1

Len Clark, Ph.D.

Committee Member 2

Anthony Mangeri,

Committee Member 3

DeMond S. Miller, Ph.D.

Keywords

Delaware Memorial Bridge;Francis Scott Key Bridge;Gov Graham Bridge;Gov Lane Bridge;MDTA;MV Dali

Disciplines

Civil and Environmental Engineering | Civil Engineering | Engineering

Abstract

This thesis discusses the tragic event of the container ship MV Dali impacting the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, leading to the collapse of the structure and killing six people despite having collision mitigation protections in place. This research examines how late twentieth-century structures are inadequate for current shipping demands and emphasizes that updated mitigation design criteria must accommodate larger modern vessels as governments replace or upgrade these structures. This paper will examine four case studies of different collisions that have similar circumstances to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and review National Transportation Safety Board reports where some post event findings were not adopted by bridge owners, that may have reduced the number of fatalities during the Francis Scott Key collapse. This essay will conclude with an example of a local structure undergoing upgrades that include an updated bridge collision protection system and highlight at least one at risk structure that should include one of the recommendations from this research.

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