UNITED STATES: Salvage crews in Baltimore have initiated the process of lifting debris from the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, marking the first step towards reopening the city’s blocked port. The bridge collapsed early Tuesday morning when a container ship lost power and crashed into a support pylon, resulting in the deaths of six road workers.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced that a section of the bridge’s steel superstructure north of the crash site would be cut into pieces and lifted by crane onto a barge. This effort aims to open a temporary restricted channel to facilitate vessel movement around the collapse site.
While the bodies of two workers have been recovered, efforts to recover the four others presumed dead remain suspended due to dangerous conditions for divers amid debris. The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy’s salvage arm, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are collaborating to clear the deep-draft shipping channel of debris before the Dali, the container ship that caused the collapse, can be moved.
The salvage operation involves a 160-ton marine crane lifting a piece of the bridge’s superstructure onto a barge for removal. This piece will be taken to the nearby Tradepoint Atlantic site for further processing. Tradepoint Atlantic, a former Bethlehem Steel Mill site, operates a fully operational port on the Chesapeake Bay side of the collapsed bridge.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefield stated that Tradepoint Atlantic has agreed to allow other ships to unload vehicles at its deepwater dock, facilitating shipment preparations for dealers.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, authorities closed a portion of U.S. Highway 59 near Sallisaw after a barge struck a bridge over the Arkansas River. No injuries were reported, and bridge inspections are underway.
The tragedy in Maryland has put the jobs of approximately 15,000 people associated with daily port operations on hold. While other East Coast ports can handle container traffic, Baltimore is crucial for “roll-on, roll-off” vehicle imports and exports of farm and construction equipment.
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced that the Small Business Administration has approved Maryland’s request for a disaster declaration, allowing affected small firms to apply for emergency low-interest loans. Additionally, the federal government has awarded Maryland an initial $60 million in emergency funds for debris removal and bridge rebuilding, with President Joe Biden pledging full federal coverage for all costs related to the incident.
