Baltimore (NEWSnet/AP) — Attorneys are asking a federal judge to prevent crew members on the cargo ship Dali from returning to their home countries amid ongoing investigations into the circumstances leading up to the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March.

Eight of the Dali’s crew members were scheduled to debark the ship and return home as early as Thursday, according to emails included in court filings Tuesday. The roughly two dozen total seafarers hail from India and Sri Lanka.

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That would mark the first time any of them can leave the ship since it lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns on March 26.

[Related Reporting: Traffic Resumes Through Baltimore's Busy Port After Cleanup of Collapsed Key Bridge]

In the court filings, attorneys representing the City of Baltimore said the men should remain in the U.S. so they can be deposed in ongoing civil litigation over who should be held responsible for covering costs and damages.

The petition requested an emergency hearing on the matter. No ruling has been issued in response.

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