The Baltimore bridge collapse recovery marked a significant milestone on Monday as tugboats guided the damaged container ship Dali back to port. The vessel’s bow was still covered with debris from the tragic incident, including smashed shipping containers, fallen steel trusses, and mangled concrete.
It has been almost two months since the Dali lost power and collided with one of the bridge’s supporting columns, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers and disrupting maritime traffic through the Port of Baltimore.
Refloated during high tide on Monday morning, the ship was slowly towed away from the site of the March 26 disaster by five tugboats. The extensive damage to its bow, including a large hole above the waterline on the starboard side, was evident.
The removal of the vessel has created a void in Baltimore’s skyline, removing an iconic landmark and symbol of the city’s maritime heritage. Cleanup crews have already cleared tons of steel debris that emerged from the water after the collapse.
All six victims, who were Latino immigrants seeking job opportunities in the U.S., have been recovered from the underwater wreckage. They were working on filling potholes during an overnight shift when the bridge collapsed.
The Dali is expected to travel at a slow pace of about 1 mph on its roughly 2.5-mile journey back to port for temporary repairs. After the initial repairs, the ship will be moved to a shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia for extensive restoration.
To refloat the Dali, crews had to release anchors and pump out over 1 million gallons of water that had kept the ship grounded. A controlled demolition on May 13 cleared the path by breaking down the largest remaining span of the collapsed bridge that was obstructing the vessel.
An FBI criminal investigation has been initiated to determine the events leading up to the crash.
The ship experienced two electrical blackouts before leaving the Port of Baltimore on its ill-fated journey to Sri Lanka. Changes to the electrical system made by the crew contributed to the subsequent power failures, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Despite the efforts of the crew and the two tugboats that guided the Dali out of port, the ship suffered additional blackouts, leading to the tragic collision with the Key Bridge.
The crew, mainly from India, has been confined to the vessel since the incident. The Dali is managed by Synergy Marine Group and owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., both based in Singapore.
Efforts are underway to provide shore leave for the crew members, whose visas have expired. Additional crew members have joined to help with the workload and give the original crew a break.
The channel has been cleared to a width of 400 feet and a depth of 50 feet, with plans to expand it to its full 700-foot width within two weeks, according to Port Director Jonathan Daniels.
Governor Wes Moore commended the cleanup progress and vowed to continue supporting those affected and rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
By Lea Skene
Please rewrite the following sentence: “The cat jumped onto the bed and curled up for a nap.”
“The cat leaped onto the bed and nestled in for a snooze.”
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