(Reuters) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated on Thursday that they anticipate opening a new channel to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April. This move will release commercial shipping that has been obstructed by a collapsed bridge and aim to fully restore port access by the end of May.
Since the fully loaded container ship Dali lost power and crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, causing the bridge to fall into the Patapsco River and claiming the lives of six road workers, the main channel has been blocked by debris.
The multiagency team responding to the Baltimore disaster, which includes the Army Corps, announced their plans one day before President Joe Biden’s visit. They stated that within four weeks, the channel would be operational for some roll-on/roll-off vessels, primarily used to transport automobiles and farm equipment.
The Port of Baltimore is a key player in handling autos, light trucks, farm equipment, and construction machinery in the United States. Despite some terminal operations outside the affected area having resumed, most traffic has been put on hold since the unfortunate accident.
This week, two auxiliary channels suitable for emergency vessels, tugs, and barges were opened on each side of the incapacitated ship, stuck under the bridge debris with thousands of containers and a crew of 21 sailors still on board.
Nevertheless, with depths restricted to 11 feet and 14 feet, these channels are too shallow for major cargo ships that require a depth of 35 feet.
“USACE expects to open a limited access channel 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore within the next four weeks – by the end of April,” the corps declared.
By the end of May, the corps anticipates the restoration of port access to full capacity with a navigation channel that is 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep.
Prior to this, salvage crews need to extract the Dali from the harbor by removing steel bridge debris on top of it, followed by clearing the twisted metal and highway wreckage in the water. Among the debris are the bodies of four of the six highway workers who lost their lives.
The Biden administration has allocated an initial $60 million in emergency funds for clearing the channel and starting the recovery process. President Biden has also expressed intentions to seek funding from Congress for the complete rebuilding of the bridge.
(Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
