Recovery efforts at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse have reached a critical step as crews began removing shipping containers from the vessel Dali. This removal is necessary to access a key portion of the roadway, which is currently perched above the containers on board the 980-foot, Singapore-flagged ship that lost power and struck the bridge on March 26. Unified Command, a cooperative of first responders, recovery crews, and various agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is overseeing the operation with the goal of reopening the waterway and redeveloping the bridge.
Three of the six roadway workers who were on the bridge when it collapsed have been recovered, while the other three are presumed dead. Moving the ship is crucial to reopening the port to traffic, as it would relieve weight off the ship and allow for its movement. The removal of containers is a necessary step in this process and is being carried out with the help of a floating crane. Maryland Governor Wes Moore emphasized the urgency of clearing the wreckage to rebuild the bridge and restore traffic to the Port of Baltimore, which has been essentially closed since the collision. Temporary traffic has been rerouted through alternate channels, but the goal is to fully restore port traffic by the end of May.
The Port of Baltimore is a key destination for imported cars to the United States, with approximately 500 container arrivals each year in recent times. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers aims to open a one-way shipping lane in the port by the end of April through a channel that is 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep. Their larger goal is to restore full port traffic by the end of May via a federal navigation channel that is 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep. The Fort McHenry Channel remains blocked by the bridge collapse, limiting traffic in and out of the port, but temporary measures are in place to maintain some level of operations.
The images released by Unified Command show the progress being made in removing containers and a section of bridge support. The reopening of the Fort McHenry Channel is dependent on the safe removal of the M/V Dali and the debris from the collapsed bridge. The collaboration between multiple agencies and response teams is essential in ensuring the successful recovery and reopening of the waterway. The removal of the wreckage and restoration of traffic to the Port of Baltimore is a priority to alleviate disruptions to commerce and transportation in the region.
The bridge collapse has had a significant impact on traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore, with vessels being diverted through temporary channels. The closure of the Fort McHenry Channel has affected the port’s operations, but efforts are underway to restore full traffic through the implementation of wider and deeper shipping lanes. The rebuilding of the Key Bridge and the reopening of the waterway are crucial steps in revitalizing the port’s operations and ensuring the continued flow of goods and transportation in the region. This ongoing recovery operation highlights the resilience and coordination of various agencies and response teams in managing a complex and challenging situation.
