A cargo ship stuck in Baltimore’s harbor for weeks after the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge collapsed last month was finally freed Thursday, becoming the first ship to pass through the wreckage via a new deep-sea waterway. .
The bulk carrier Balsa 94, bound for Saint John, Canada, was guided by two tugboats as it navigated the new temporary strait in 35 feet of water, followed later that day by two more merchant vessels.
The bridge became a milestone in the port city’s recovery after a giant container ship crashed into the bridge during a power outage on March 26, shattering it and killing six construction workers on it. It was a great event.
Baltimore authorities continue to work to remove thousands of tons of shattered steel from the port entrance where the cargo ship Dali, which caused the wreck, is stuck on the rubble.
Five ships stuck in the port for almost a month with no way out are expected to finally leave through the new waterway in the coming days before authorities close the port on Monday or Tuesday. .
The channel will be closed until May 10 as crews work to free the Dali by removing the steel span that crashed into its deck so it can surface and return to port.
The 50-foot-deep main channel is scheduled to reopen next month after the cargo ship vacates, restoring maritime traffic to the busy port, which typically handles more automobiles and farm equipment than any other U.S. port.
The bridge collapse killed six Latino immigrants who were part of a road construction crew taking a break when a cargo ship collided with the bridge. Only four bodies were found in the mess of steel and concrete beneath the water.
The disaster has also devastated Baltimore’s economy, impacting countless jobs for longshore workers, truck drivers and small business owners, with the impact expected to be alleviated by the reopening of major shipping lanes. It is expected.
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