Over the past few days, divers have been inspecting the container ship Dali, which allided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on 26 March. On 5 April, the body of one of the missing road workers was recovered. On Sunday, salvors began removing containers from the ship as part of the effort to gain access to the portion of the Key Bridge that lies atop the ship.
The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command has been continuing dive and salvage operations on the container ship Dali at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. The vessel lost propulsion on 26 March after leaving the Port of Baltimore and subsequently allided with the bridge, leading to its collapse.
Eight road workers were working on the bridge when it collapsed. Two were rescued from the water, while later, the bodies of two more were recovered. A third body was located and recovered at approximately 10:30 a.m., April 5. Three remain missing and are presumed dead.
Also read: VIDEO: Bridge collapses after being hit by container ship
Salvage operations
Since Thursday, 4 April, divers have been working to assess any damage sustained by the vessel and pinpoint the exact locations where it is grounded. By identifying any potential damages and determining the precise grounding site, the Unified Command can prioritise the necessary actions to mitigate risks and ensure the safe recovery of the vessel.
The Unified Command continued salvage operations at the Key Bridge incident on 6 April. Progress included the removal of a 156-tonne piece of Span 19 outside of the navigational channel, which was hoisted and loaded onto a barge for future disposal.
Also read: Baltimore bridge collapse and shipping safety
Traffic gradually increasing
After the bridge collapsed, traffic was suspended. On 1 April, a temporary channel of limited draught was opened, allowing the first vessel to pass and reach the port. A second channel was opened a day later. The Unified Command now says that traffic through the alternate channels, while still limited, is gradually increasing, with ten vessels transiting between Friday and Saturday. As of Sunday, a total of 32 vessels have passed through the temporary alternate channels.
The current 2000-yard (1828.8-metre) safety zone around the Francis Scott Key Bridge remains in effect and is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment. Members of the public may not enter the safety zone unless authorised by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or designated representative. Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or designated representative.
Also read: What happened in the minutes leading up to the Key Bridge collapse
Removal of containers
On Sunday, 7 April, the Unified Command began to remove containers onboard M/V Dali at the Key Bridge incident site. The transfer of containers will continue in the coming days, as weather permits.
The removal of these containers is a critical step required to safely move the M/V Dali and eventually fully re-open the Fort McHenry Channel. Removing containers allows for safe access to then remove the pieces of the Key Bridge that lie across the ship’s bow, taking weight off the ship and ultimately allowing for the movement of the ship.
‘The Unified Command is concurrently progressing on its main lines of effort to remove enough debris to open the channel to larger commercial traffic, refloat the M/V Dali and continue recovery efforts for missing loved ones,’ says Coast Guard Capt. David O’Connell, federal on-scene coordinator, Unified Command.
Picture (top): Response crews began removing shipping containers using a floating crane barge at the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on April 7, 2024. The Unified Command is continuing efforts in support of removing the M/V Dali, which is required to fully re-open the Fort McHenry Channel (Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command photo).
Also read: Baltimore bridge collapse may cause supply chain disruption
