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The FBI needed to obtain a search warrant to seize the crew's phones and I suspect that they did it in order to examine their communications. With many end to end message encryption apps, the contents can only be read on a device that either sent or received the message. And, because of how encryption keys work, data downloaded off a device is typically inaccessible. Screen shots is often the only sure method to access and preserve secure messages, and this can be labor intensive. Any phones with incriminating messages or photos will be held for evidence and never be returned to the crew. Undoubtedly, the FBI is looking for any communications concerning maintenance/problems on the ship, and they are certain the find some, which will implicate culpable parties. Dockworkers had complained about power outages while they were loading the vessel, which caused refrigerated containers to shut down. Some of the crew are likely to face criminal prosecution and others will be witnesses against them. So they aren't going any where soon.
FBI is investigating so they will treat the crew as criminals and if they don't find anything they will make something up so that they can charge them since they are foreigners from poor countries who can't defend themselves. Bridge replacement is going to cost billions so someone has to go to jail.
With the FBI involved it seems like there is a "terrorist attack" investigation happening. With the release on the preliminary NTSB report just released that may all be finalized now? Also the way social media blew up on the day of the collision and all the "arm chair" mariners having all the answers pointing fingers the seamen may have been kept on board for there own protection.
I really your view on this subject, but I used to go on ships where we were expecting to be at anchor for 6 months. I never experienced that because the agent was great. We didn’t have phone’s . The longest spell on one ship was 9 months. No communication bar letters. How did we cope.
You are very right on the cell phone issue concerning not just verbal but also data including contacts made and associations. In a way I think that the conspiracy to crash vs. the accident, the accident wins. It is an issue that was identified dockside and as anyone that has worked with machinery knows that just fixing one problem can cause the next weakist part to fail. Many corperations will fix the quick fix but not invest in a full review of systems at greater costs. I'm sure that Mega Yaughts are much different considering the cargo difference. I wonder if the shipping ceo has a pleasure craft and just how differently the maintenance is performed. I' m very sure that his butt is much better protected than those measly employees.
I would think that these sailors would be used to not having cell coverage for most of their tine at sea, would not think there are a lot of cell towers along their ocean routes.
BTW, at the time of the detonation to break apart the bridge structure leaning on ship, the crew were on high alert because the local fire department were on board too with hoses already deployed and they had to make sure the ship's firefighting pumps were A-OK in case some of the hot shrapnel from explosion would ignitite something on ship.
Bridge got in the way of the Dali on March 26th. NTSB got involved March 27th. FBI started its investigation April 15th. Apparently, the seizure of phones was done early in the FBI's investigation, so only from April 15th. iPhones are not that easy to duplicate/backup/copy without the password. And the FBI is more ikely to end up taking pictures of all pages in messages and similar apps than to download the data itself. But FBI clearly not in a hurry to complere the work and return phones. Also, the NTB has released its preliminary report today or yesterday, am just reading it now. (sorry, RU-vid punishes me if I post URLs in comments).
Being in the U.S. and having access to local news here are a few things that you missed. The crew was confined to the ship even while the ship was in port unloading / loading. The reason reported at the time shortly after the crash was that most or all of the crew does not have the required visas and other papers to disembark. Another reason for them to be on the ship is that they have to keep all the systems on the ship running even though the ship is not sailing. From your report one could get the impression that the crew is stuck on the ship and kept in a vacuum. There are people, Coast Guard, etc., who are visiting the crew on a regular basis, resupplying food and other supplies. Why the crew's phones were confiscated and have still not been returned, I have no answer and it does seem a bit extreme.
Man "O" man you do an excellent job 😊 Of explanation of what these poor sailor from a foreign land have to deal with being your vessel has crashed and is stuck. The way the FBI traeted these Sailors is just down right WRONG. I so much love their is a organization that looks out for their welfare. 😊 I love how you walk on pier and explain everything in facts. 😊
As always I like and trust your coverage of these situations! One thing that has not been mentioned, as you well know to shut down one of these ships would not only take a lot of time and course the restart would be even more time! Just to maintain the ship and keep it operational and ready to be moved on short notice takes a large part of the crew! Remember until this ship is completely relocated the channel cannot be opened! About the phones, I agree, without a phone you may as well lock yourself in your room! However, we've heard a lot of speculation and guesses as to what really happened, but no hard clear story. The one large piece of information is that this ship was probably not seaworthy! So they must prevent communications so all those involved can make up, or be told what to say or not say! I do hope they are being supplied well.
I really wonder what percentage of the things we treat as nefarious really turn out to be? And why so many things that are OBVIOUSLY nefarious are ignored, given a pass or even rewarded. I’m not a conspiracy theorist. But I do recognize that so many events like this are used by political operatives and media moguls to distract us from the truly nefarious stuff going on under our noses every day. I wish the innocent good luck and the guilty a swift and influential punishment. But alas in today’s world, that idea is laughable. Thanks as always for great thoughtful content.
As a retired Crime Scene Investigator, I have some insight. The phones were seized as part of a criminal investigation. Yes, the phone can be copied, but we are still required to maintain all evidence for court. The original evidence will remain as seized, and the copy of the data is what will be analyzed. Nothing will be released until the Investigation is over. Releasing the original evidence could result in the "copy" being thrown out of court. Often it is just too early in an investigation to truely know what is important to the case.
It is sad that the authorities have no consideration for the mariners. This is the cruel arrogance of bureaucrats who treat the sailors as a lower class of human. Release the phones, even if you make copies of the data. Grant shore leave.
Час назад
KINDA MAKES YA THINK THERE WAS A PROBLEMO WITH TR1?!? THERES A 'DATA/ALARM LOGGER' IN THE ENGINE CONTROL ROOM THAT RECORDS ALARMS. THERE EXIST 'GROUND FAULT DETECTION' INSTRUMENTATION ON THE SWITCHBOARDS, ALARMS AND RECORDINGS THEREOF. I THINK THE CAPTAIN AND CHIEF ENGINEER KNEW TR1 WAS FAILING/FAILED WHILE IN PORT AND LEFT ANYWAY! ITS CRIMINAL WHAT THEY DID! IGNORANT ARROGANCE STRIKES AGAIN! 6 SOULS+BRIDGE IN THE DRINK
Not sure it's that easy concerning the phones. I was involved in an investigation. The phones were held as evidence for the better part of 5ish years (maybe longer,). From what I understand, the investigators had to file a warrant with the phone company to access records, which the opposing lawyers would delay and hinder. Obtaining the warrants, filing it, dealing with the phone company bureaucracy etc. That can take a long time. And I imagine that dealing with international companies is even worse. Not to mention alot of phones. I am not an official of any sort, just relating my own experience and what the lawyers told me. By the time the phones were returned they were multiple generations old. And how the crew is being looked at by the government, no idea. Are they responsible for the accident? If they think they might be, then saying they are detained might be right. Time will tell.
"The FBI has opened a criminal investigation into the cargo ship that slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge and caused it to collapse in Baltimore last month, according to two senior law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation." April 15th NBC Article
This is a major catastrophe, not a car accident. Every precaution should be taken to make sure this accident is thoroughly investigated. Many people lost their lives. Therefore, it is imperative that everything and everyone is investigated.
They go to sea for months at a time. They have enough to do keeping the pumps going. Release the allotments to their families. Seal all comms in/out. Quarantine in effect, e-signals included. Find out deliberate intent-masked under cover of "Lost power to steering"- right. No sympathy. Should never left the dock w/ power failures. 2 Pilots and the Captain.
@eSysmanSuperYachts BlancoLirio just reviewed the new NTSB Preliminary Report on his channel minutes ago. He normally does aviation accident investigation but he's very good at explaining accident reports in general. Great details of the electrical system and what transpired aboard the ship with the timing of events.
I thought they had access to wifi. If so, then there are other means of comms. For real-time comms, there's WhatsApp and Facetime. For offline comms, there's email.
I feel sorry for them but they are safer onboard than they would be in crime-ravaged Baltimore. Still they should be allowed to get their own phones back, it's cruel not to.
I haven't heard anyone talk about the weather and water conditions, only the loss of power. Pardon my ignorance, but if a boat is going straight and losses power, it should continue to go straight. I don't believe Wind or Current 'turned' the Dali. Maybe you have spoke to this before, but how does something that large turn that 'quickly' without having rudder input? What was the Wind Direction and how strong? What was the Water/Current Conditions and how strong? The power goes out and a 149,000-ish Ton Boat (Titanic was 52,000-ish Tons) turns right into the exact spot to drop that bridge. How did it turn without rudder input ?........anybody ? The crew is safer on the boat. Baltimore is a sh!thole. Spent lots of time in that area about 15 yrs ago and it hasn't gotten better.
Well, they did bring a known defective ship into our country, so... none of the crew said we should repair the issues before we set sale/get underway. Look at the damage this broken ship cost us, lives lost, a bridge, a port, all the people out of work, for years. It was a known defective ship.
Im a tug boat captain and have been working various barges around and allongside the ship. The crew onboard, I've talked to just about every day they are in good spirits and are use to long hitches. Its almost over fir the crew.
If it turns out a crime was committed, they need the phone itself as evidence. So the Feds need to keep those until cleared. But we are no longer living in a perfect world , today, this is an upside down Clown World ...... Let's go Brandon.......
Hello, i would appreciate very much if someone with understanding in the matter could give me a correct answer to the following; so, not on a mega yacht or nothing of the sort, but my own small 14 meter 45 foot sailing yacht, the boat having polish flag, myself Swiss & Swedish nationality, a 100% Legal Spanish firearms license, both hunting licence and im also a competitor, short firearm pistol revolver, precision + IPSC speed course shooter, and Long Rifle firearms precision+ IPSC speed course shooter, with licence up to date, insurance, spanish federation number etc, could i having a legal, up to international standards firearms safe aboard, have 3 of my weapons aboard with me, say a Pistol 9mm, a 12 Gauge Shotgun, and a small caliber .22LR AR15 the day i get ready to sail across the Atlantic and attempt a circumnavigation ?? I would apreciate if someone with experience could tell me if its possible without to much hassel, and pros and cons 🙏🏻 Having in mind that countrys with strict 0 acceptance of boat like mine sailing there, it wouldn't bother me simply avoiding thise countries (unless they are a great mayority) thats mainly why i ask. Thank you so much ⛵⚓❤️
