Agents were seen arriving at the ship on Monday to interview the crew, who remain onboard three weeks after the crash that killed six construction workers performing repairs on the bridge.
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FBI launches CRIMINAL probe into Baltimore bridge collapse as agents look at whether 22-man crew knew the Dali had problems when it left port before it crashed killing six builders
The FBI has launched a criminal probe into the Baltimore bridge collapse that killed six construction workers.
Agents will investigate whether the 22-strong crew of the Dali knew it had serious systemic issues before they left the Maryland port on March 26.
Meanwhile Baltimore's mayor said the city is brining in outside firms to 'hold responsible all entities accountable for the Key Bridge tragedy'.
It comes just three weeks after shocking footage beamed around the world showing the 110,000-ton cargo ship ram into the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The huge smash caused it to collapse on to the vessel and into the freezing river, sending six construction workers to their death.
The criminal probe will be overseen by the US district attorney's office in Maryland and focus on how much the 22-crew knew about the ship's problems.
Baltimore mayor Brandon Scott said: 'This unthinkable tragedy has taken Marylanders from their loved ones, and risked the livelihoods of thousands of Baltimoreans who rely on the Port of Baltimore.
'Part of that work needs to be seeking recourse from those who may potentially be responsible, and with the ship's owner filing a petition to limit its liability mere days after the incident, we need to act equally as quickly yo protect the City's interest.'
There is already a separate federal probe into the deadly collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge by the National Transportation Safety Board.
During the initial stages of that probe, investigators are focusing on the electrical power system of the massive container ship that veered off course.
Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, said her agency is gathering data with assistance from Hyundai, the manufacturer of equipment in the ship's engine room. Testifying before a U.S. Senate committee, she said investigators have also requested assistance to examine its circuit breakers.
'That is where our focus is right now in this investigation,' she said. 'Of course, that's preliminary. It could take different roads, different paths as we continue this investigation.'
Homendy said they've zeroed in on the electrical system. The ship experienced power issues moments before the crash, as evidenced in videos showing its lights going out and coming back on.
The FBI is doing criminal probe. I heard people say the boat was too old to be doing such a procedure.
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