Salvage crews are currently focused on removing the thousands of tons of debris that landed on the Dali, a cargo ship involved in the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The ship veered off course, crashing into a supporting column of the bridge, causing it to topple. Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 tons of steel and concrete now sit on the ship's deck, requiring removal before the ship can be refloated and guided back to the Port of Baltimore.
Photos displayed during a recent news conference showed a section of the fallen roadway crushing the ship's bow. Cranes have already lifted around 120 containers from the Dali, with 20 more to go before workers can begin removing the mangled steel and concrete debris. The ship, carrying about 4,000 containers, was bound for Sri Lanka when it lost power shortly after departing from Baltimore.
The ship's owner has initiated a process requiring cargo owners to contribute to the salvage costs. Tragically, six members of a roadwork crew lost their lives in the collapse, with two individuals still missing.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott emphasized the importance of finding the missing individuals for closure. Maryland Governor Wes Moore highlighted the urgent need to rebuild the Key Bridge, a vital link for the city's working-class communities and essential for the Port of Baltimore's operations.
Efforts are underway to secure funding for the bridge's reconstruction, with President Joe Biden calling on Congress to authorize federal funding for the cleanup and reconstruction. Crews are also working to reopen the port's main channel, with progress being made in removing steel debris blocking the waterway.
The community is rallying together to support unemployed port workers and others affected by the collapse. Plans are in place to open a temporary access channel by the end of the month to resume maritime traffic through the port, restoring commerce to the region's busiest maritime transit hub.
Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski expressed confidence in the community's resilience, stating that the same steel resolve that built the area will help in reopening the port and rebuilding the Key Bridge.
