The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on Thursday its plans to open a new channel to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April, with the goal of restoring full port capacity by the end of May. This decision follows the blockage of the main channel due to a collapsed bridge, which has disrupted commercial shipping.
The incident occurred when the container ship Dali lost power and collided with a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, resulting in the deaths of six road workers and the bridge's collapse into the Patapsco River.
The Army Corps, a part of the multi-agency response team, made the announcement ahead of President Joe Biden's visit, stating that within four weeks, the channel would be suitable for some roll-on/roll-off vessels used for transporting automobiles and farm equipment.
The Port of Baltimore, known for handling a high volume of autos, light trucks, and farm/construction machinery, has seen most of its traffic suspended since the accident, although some terminal operations outside the affected area have resumed.
Earlier this week, two auxiliary channels were opened for emergency vessels, tugs, and barges, but they are too shallow for major cargo ships, which require a depth of 35 feet.
The USACE plans to open a limited access channel, 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April, and restore full port access by the end of May, with a navigation channel 700 feet wide and 50 feet deep.
However, before full restoration can occur, salvage crews must remove steel bridge debris atop the Dali to extract it from the harbor and clear the twisted metal and highway wreckage from the water, which contains the bodies of four of the six highway workers who were killed.
The Biden administration has allocated an initial $60 million in emergency funding for clearing the channel and starting the recovery process. Biden also intends to request Congress to fund the complete rebuilding of the bridge.