It was reported that the Francis Scott Key Bridge in the Port of Baltimore, which is known to be one of the busiest ports in the United States, has fully reopened after more than two months since a massive cargo ship collided with it, causing significant damage.
The Port of Baltimore has some good news to share as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that the Fort McHenry Federal Channel is now back to its original operational dimensions for commercial maritime transit. This announcement was made on Monday, providing a sense of relief to all those who rely on the channel for their business operations.
Colonel Estee Pinchasin, the Baltimore District Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, announced that the Fort McHenry Federal Channel has been cleared for safe transit. While the primary objective of restoring full operational capacity to the federal channel has been achieved, the tragic loss of life and the impact on the affected workers and their families has been a constant reminder throughout the process.
Pinchasin expressed that they thought about all of them every day, which was a source of motivation for them to keep going.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers partnered with the U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving to successfully clear the wreckage. Notable agencies that collaborated on the project were the U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Transportation Authority, Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Mariner, and Maryland State Police.
According to the Unified Command, the clearance of the final large steel truss that had been obstructing the full channel was completed last week. Crews employed various techniques, including concrete breakers, underwater surveys, and clamshell dredges, to remove debris and clear the way.
On May 20th, the M/V Dali was safely transported by the Unified Command.
On March 26, the Key Bridge was struck by the Dali, which resulted in a collapse that tragically claimed the lives of six workers and hindered access to the port.
At the site of the accident, the workers successfully cleared out 50,000 tons of debris from the bridge wreckage. Additionally, they were able to remove the container ship, which measured 984 feet in length and 158 feet in width.
Over 1,587 responders, hailing from approximately 56 federal, state and local agencies, were led by the Unified Command during the response. Additionally, a fleet consisting of 18 barges, 22 tugboats, 13 floating cranes, 10 excavators, and four survey boats were operated by around 500 specialists from various parts of the globe.
In a preliminary report released last month, the National Transportation Safety Board highlighted that the Dali encountered two power outages while it was docked, 10 hours prior to the collision.
The NTSB reported that the vessel encountered two additional blackouts at around 1:28 a.m. after departing from the port in the early hours of March 26.
The ship’s electrical system has become the main focus of the federal investigators’ probe.
It seems that vehicle traffic will remain blocked off until 2028.
It is estimated that the reconstruction of the bridge will require a budget ranging from $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion.
President Joe Biden has made a commitment to provide federal assistance for the project.