Crews used explosives to break apart a large span of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, sending the mangled metal crashing into the water. The video showed the explosives detonating, followed by a loud boom and a plume of smoke. The steel truss fell away from the grounded Dali container ship into the Patapsco River, creating a big wave of water that crashed onto the bow of the ship. The ship has been stuck in the wreckage since March 26, resulting in six construction workers’ deaths and a halt in maritime traffic in and out of Baltimore’s port.
The successful detonation of explosives has paved the way for freeing the ship from the bridge debris, which is expected to lead to the Dali being refloated and moved out of the way to restore traffic through the port. The process is likened to peeling back an onion as crews assess the remaining pieces of the bridge on the container ship’s bow and ensure that nothing underwater is preventing the ship from being floated and moved out of the area. Officials anticipate refloating the ship within the next few days, marking a significant milestone in the progress towards resolving the aftermath of the bridge collapse.
The 21-member crew of the Dali, who have been stranded on the ship since the disaster, remained on board during the detonation and were reported to be safe without injuries afterward. Investigations into the cause of the bridge collapse are being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI. Prior to the crash, the crew of the Dali had sent out a mayday call reporting the loss of power and control of the ship’s steering system, which ultimately led to the ship striking a bridge support and causing the collapse. The Baltimore District Commander for the Army Corps of Engineers does not expect any further explosives to be used in the process of clearing the wreckage.
Once the ship is freed from the mangled mess of the collapsed bridge, business in the port is expected to slowly return as thousands of dockworkers, truckers, and business owners will benefit from the restoration of traffic flow. The catastrophic event of the bridge collapse has had far-reaching impacts, resulting in tragic deaths and a standstill in maritime activities. The successful detonation of explosives and the subsequent progress towards refloating the ship are important steps towards resolving the aftermath of the disaster and allowing for the return of normal operations in the port of Baltimore. This development marks a significant milestone in the recovery process following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
