The Port of Baltimore resumed operations through a temporary channel on Monday, freeing several tugs and barges that had been trapped due to last week's bridge collapse. However, officials emphasized that the broader restoration of commercial shipping remained challenging due to persistent conditions.
The shipping channel in Baltimore has been obstructed since a fully loaded container ship lost power and collided with a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge last Tuesday. This tragic incident resulted in the death of six road workers and the collapse of the highway bridge into the Patapsco River.
Efforts led by the U.S. Coast Guard and the state of Maryland are underway to reopen the port, which is the largest in the U.S. for "roll-on, roll-off" vehicle imports and exports of farm and construction equipment. However, their immediate priority is to free the cargo vessel Dali, which is lodged under steel bridge debris with 4,000 containers and a 21-member crew onboard who have been stranded since last week.
The task faced by recovery workers is daunting, as evidenced by the 10-hour effort needed to cut free and remove a 200-ton piece of debris. Governor Wes Moore emphasized the enormity of the project, likening the size of the debris to that of the Statue of Liberty.
The complexity of the job became even more apparent as officials revealed that the twisted steel is tangled and intertwined beneath the surface, making it challenging to determine where to cut for more manageable removal.
Limited ship traffic resumed on Monday after a temporary channel was opened on the northbound side of the wreckage with a controlling depth of 11 feet (3.35 meters). A second temporary channel on the southbound side with a depth of 15 to 16 feet (4.6 to 4.9 meters) is expected to open in the coming days, according to Governor Moore.
Once the debris is cleared, a third channel is planned with a depth of 20 to 25 feet (6.1 to 7.6 meters), allowing almost all tug and barge traffic in and out of the port.
U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Baltimore on Friday to witness the recovery efforts firsthand. The Biden administration has been actively involved, securing barges and a crane, providing early financial assistance, and working with Congress to ensure federal funding for the bridge's reconstruction.