Baltimore Bridge Salvage Begins to Reopen Port Access

March 31, 2024

Salvage Operations Underway at Baltimore’s Collapsed Bridge

In the wake of the catastrophic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, salvage crews have embarked on a meticulous operation to remove the wreckage and restore access to the city’s vital port. On Saturday, efforts were initiated to extract the first segment of the bridge from the Patapsco River, marking a significant move towards reopening the blocked shipping channel.

The disaster struck early Tuesday when a container ship, the Dali, collided with a support pylon, leading to the tragic loss of six road workers and the obstruction of the Port of Baltimore. Maryland Governor Wes Moore, addressing a news conference, outlined the current strategy which involves severing a section of the bridge’s steel superstructure to be hoisted onto a barge by crane. This action is aimed at creating a temporary restricted channel to facilitate increased vessel movement around the collapse site.

While Governor Moore refrained from offering a precise timeline for this phase of clearance, he emphasized the complexity and scale of the task at hand. “It’s not going to take hours,” he stated. “It’s not going to take days, but once we complete this phase of the work, we can move more tugs and more barges and more boats into the area to accelerate our recovery.”

The focus is currently on removing bridge parts north of the crash site, with no immediate plans to tackle the crumpled superstructure resting on the Dali. Despite damage, the ship’s hull remains intact, though it is uncertain when it will be moved. The recovery of four workers presumed dead is also on hold due to perilous conditions and excessive debris.

Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath, along with teams from various U.S. agencies, has indicated that clearing debris from the river’s shipping channel is essential before any attempt to relocate the Dali. The operation involves a 160-ton marine crane lifting a bridge piece onto a barge, supported by an even larger 1,000-tonne crane at the site.

The salvaged bridge piece will be transported to Tradepoint Atlantic, a burgeoning distribution hub home to major companies like Amazon.com, Home Depot, and Volkswagen. The facility’s port, unaffected by the bridge collapse, continues to operate smoothly.

Meanwhile, Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefield confirmed that Tradepoint officials have consented to facilitate vehicle unloading at their deepwater dock for distribution to dealers.

As Maryland grapples with this calamity, its repercussions are felt far beyond Baltimore. A similar incident occurred in Oklahoma, prompting highway closures and inspections. The incident has also put approximately 15,000 port-related jobs on pause, although other East Coast ports are expected to absorb container traffic.

In response to the economic impact, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced that small businesses affected by the disaster could seek emergency low-interest loans through the Small Business Administration. Additionally, Maryland has received $60 million in federal emergency funds for debris removal and bridge reconstruction, with President Joe Biden assuring full federal support for these efforts.

Salvage crews worked to lift the first piece of Baltimore's collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge from the water to allow access to the disaster site, in an effort to reopen the city's blocked port.
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