After more than two months of closure following a collision between a cargo ship and a major bridge in March, the shipping lane in Baltimore has finally reopened, authorities announced on Monday.
According to a statement from the Key Bridge Response Unified Command, the US Army Corps of Engineers, along with Navy salvage divers, worked tirelessly to clear the channel, removing approximately 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River. On Monday, the riverbed was declared safe for transit, marking the full restoration of the channel to its original dimensions.
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Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon, commanding general of the Army Corps of Engineers, commended the collaborative efforts that led to the successful reopening of the Federal Channel to port operations. He emphasized the importance of partnerships in overcoming the challenges posed by the incident.
The closure stemmed from an accident on March 26, when the Singapore-flagged M/V Dali lost power and collided with a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The impact caused the bridge to collapse, resulting in the tragic deaths of six road workers who were conducting overnight maintenance.
Investigations by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FBI revealed that the Dali experienced two electricity blackouts just moments before the disaster. Last month, the ship was successfully refloated and towed back into port for further assessment.
The port of Baltimore is a vital artery for trade, particularly in the auto industry, handling nearly 850,000 autos and light trucks last year alone, according to state figures. The full reopening of the shipping channel will facilitate two-way traffic, enhancing the efficiency and productivity of port operations.
Key Points
- The Baltimore shipping lane, closed for over two months due to a cargo ship colliding with a major bridge in March, has fully reopened.
- The restoration effort, led by the US Army Corps of Engineers and Navy salvage divers, involved removing around 50,000 tons of debris from the Patapsco River.
- Lieutenant General Scott Spellmon praised the collaborative efforts that enabled the successful reopening of the Federal Channel to port operations.
- The collision on March 26 involved the Singapore-flagged M/V Dali, which lost power and struck a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in six fatalities among road workers.
- Investigations by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FBI revealed two electricity blackouts on the Dali before the accident.
- The port of Baltimore, crucial for trade, especially in the auto industry, handles a significant volume of vehicles annually.
- The reopening of the shipping channel allows for two-way traffic, enhancing efficiency and productivity in port operations.
