The groups responsible for removal and rebuilding of the Baltimore Francis Scott Key Bridge, which spanned the Baltimore Harbor, have announced the removal of a major piece of bridge wreckage, as well as removal of container boxes from the ship Dali. Known as the Unified Command, the groups involved in creating a safe perimeter around the bridge, removing wreckage and repairing the bridge, include:
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- Maryland Transportation Authority
- Maryland State Police
- Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Marine
On Tuesday, March 26 at 1:30 a.m., a cargo ship named Dali was leaving the Port of Baltimore and struck the Key Bridge, causing it to collapse. Several construction workers were filling potholes along the bridge at the time, and six are thought to be dead, according to a Baltimore Sun report on April 2. A seventh construction worker, as well as a bridge inspector, survived.
According to a press release:
The Unified Command continued salvage operations at the Key Bridge incident. Progress included the removal of a 156-ton piece of Span 19 outside of the navigational channel, which was hoisted and loaded onto a barge and taken to Sparrows Point, Md., for future disposal.
Traffic through the alternate channels, while still limited, is gradually increasing, with 10 vessels transiting since Friday, April 5.
“The Unified Command was quickly stood up and has been making progress every day since this incident took place,” said Coast Guard Capt. David O’Connell, federal on-scene coordinator, Unified Command. “Support from federal, state, local authorities, and the public has been indispensable. We are deeply grateful for these partnerships, which have been critical every step of the way.”
The Unified Command emphasizes that safety remains their top priority throughout the operation. All measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the divers and personnel involved in the assessment process.
The current 2,000-yard 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 authorized 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.
Removal of Containers Begins
The Unified Command began to remove containers onboard M/V Dali at the Key Bridge incident site, Sunday.
Salvors removed containers from the M/V Dali as part of the effort to gain access to the portion of the Key Bridge that lies atop the ship. The transfer of containers from the M/V Dali will continue in the coming days, as weather permits.
While marine traffic is still limited, one vessel has transited through in the last 24 hours, totalling 32 since the creation of the temporary alternate channels.
“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,” said Coast Guard Capt. David O’Connell, federal on-scene coordinator, Unified Command. “Every day we are working to achieve these goals safely and efficiently.”
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.
With recent incursions by Unmanned Aerial Systems (i.e. drones), the public is reminded that the Unified Command continues to maintain a 2,000-yard maritime Safety Zone for recovery efforts and the Temporary Flight Restriction is a no fly-zone with a radius of three nautical miles from the surface, up to and including 1,500 feet above ground level also remains in effect.
