A major milestone in the massive cleanup effort following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has been reached with the arrival in Baltimore of the largest crane on the east coast of the United States. With the wreckage looming over the cargo ship involved in the disaster, operations have been suspended at one of the busiest ports in the country.
Due to the dangerous nature of diving among the rubble, efforts to recover the bodies of four workers who were trapped in the debris have been put on hold. To aid in the recovery efforts, the federal government has set aside emergency funding totaling about $60 million.
In order to evaluate the accident’s aftermath and talk about federal help, President Joe Biden has stated that he will be visiting Baltimore the following week. The port facilitates imports and exports essential to both internal and international trade, acting as an important economic center for Maryland.
Around eight construction workers were fixing potholes on the Key Bridge when the fall happened early on Tuesday. When the container ship Dali struck one of its columns, a significant chunk of the bridge fell into the ocean. Four employees are unaccounted for and are believed to have died, despite the fact that two workers were saved and two bodies were found.
Sonar scans have revealed that the submerged vehicles are entangled in a complex “superstructure” of concrete and debris, complicating recovery efforts. Maryland Governor Wes Moore acknowledged the immense challenge posed by each stage of the salvage operation, citing the massive weight of steel resting on the ship.
The Dali container vessel, nearly as long as the Eiffel Tower, remains afloat with its 22-person crew, all of whom are Indian nationals, still on board. Salvage operations have been impeded by the extensive debris scattered throughout the dark waters of the Patapsco River, limiting visibility for divers to just a few feet ahead.
The US Army Corps of Engineers will spearhead the extensive cleanup endeavor following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, with oversight from several officials. US Navy contractors and over 1,100 engineering specialists will join the operation.
A monumental task awaits as the largest crane on the eastern US seaboard, the Chesapeake 1000, capable of lifting 1,000 tons, is being assembled at the site. Erected on Friday, this 191-foot-long crane, built in 1972, will be complemented by a smaller crane joining the efforts on Saturday.
Precision is paramount as workers must carefully dismantle debris from the bridge into manageable pieces for lifting by the crane, ensuring no hazardous materials from the shipping containers atop the Dali cargo ship spill into the river. Among these containers are those containing sheen, a substance used in paint, with some already reported to have ruptured, as per the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Floating booms have been deployed in an attempt to contain any leaks. Experts anticipate that it could take up to a month for the Port of Baltimore to resume operations, while the bridge reconstruction process may span years. Additionally, the investigation into the incident is projected to extend over two years.
The community of Baltimore continues to grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy. The city’s Major League Baseball team, the Baltimore Orioles, commenced their season on Thursday with a poignant moment of silence in remembrance of the victims, hailing from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico.
There are stories of incredible survival, like the one about the construction worker who was saved from the river, among the depressing mood. Given his incapacity to swim, his wife expressed thankfulness for his survival and called it nothing less than a miracle.