A stranded cargo ship that has blocked one of America’s busiest ports will be removed Monday nearly two months after it struck and destroyed a bridge in Baltimore, authorities said over the weekend.
The complex operation would see the nearly 1,000-foot-long (300-meter) Dali container ship at a marine terminal, marking a major step in reopening the main shipping channel.
The Singapore-flagged ship lost power before hitting a support column on the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, causing it to collapse and kill six workers atop the main crossing.
The accident closed the port, although temporary canals allowed some traffic in and out of Baltimore.
Authorities leading the rescue operation said the Dali would be ready for refloating from noon (16:00 GMT) on Sunday, ahead of low tide on Monday, according to the 5:24am forecast.
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Divers will first inspect the ship to ensure there are no obstructions after demolition specialists used explosives last week to remove parts of the damaged steel bridge trapping the Dali, which still has a crew of 21.
Salvagers will then pump up to 1.25 million gallons (4.7 million liters) of water previously pumped into the Dali to stabilize it as ballast, before releasing the anchors and mooring lines.
Tugs will transport the Dali at about 1 mile per hour (1.6 kilometers per hour) to a nearby marine terminal, with the trip expected to take three hours.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told NBC News on Sunday that he was “proud that we’re on track and by the end of May we’ll have that federal channel back open.”
Authorities are working around the clock to clear the fallen bridge and reopen the waterway after it became impassable due to the debris.
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The port is a key hub for the auto industry, handling nearly 850,000 cars and light trucks last year — more than any other U.S. port, according to state data.
In April the FBI launched a criminal investigation into the incident, with its agents boarding Dali as part of the investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which is also investigating, said Tuesday that the ship had experienced two power outages in the moments before the disaster.
He also reported that the crew had been tested several times, before and after the disaster, for drugs and alcohol, and that none had shown up.
Source: AFP