(BALTIMORE) — The Unified Command began to remove containers aboard M/V Dali at the Francis Scott Key Bridge incident site on Sunday. The ship struck the bridge on March 26, causing it to collapse.
Salvors are removing containers from Dali as part of the effort to gain access to the portion of the Key Bridge that lies atop the ship. The transfer of containers from Dali will continue in the coming days, as weather permits.
In parallel, wreckage and debris removal continued at the site, including portions of Span 19 that were taken to Sparrows Point, Md. While marine traffic is still limited, one vessel has transited through in the past 24 hours, totaling 32 since the creation of the temporary alternate channels.
“The Unified Command is concurrently progressing on its main lines of effort to remove enough debris to open the channel to larger commercial traffic, refloat the M/V Dali and continue recovery efforts for missing loved ones,” said Coast Guard Capt. David O’Connell, federal on-scene coordinator, Unified Command. “Every day we are working to achieve these goals safely and efficiently.”
The removal of these containers is a critical step required to safely move Dali and eventually fully reopen the Fort McHenry Channel. Removing containers allows for safe access to then remove the pieces of the Key Bridge that lie across the ship’s bow, taking weight off the ship and ultimately allowing for the movement of the ship.
With recent incursions by unmanned aerial systems (i.e. drones), the public is reminded that the Unified Command continues to maintain a 2,000-yard maritime safety zone for recovery efforts. The temporary flight restriction is a no-fly zone with a radius of 3 nautical miles from the surface, up to and including 1,500 feet above ground level.
The captain of the port issued a broadcast notice to mariners via VHF Channel 16. Mariners are requested to monitor Channel 16 for the latest information.
The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command includes:
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Maryland Department of the Environment
Maryland Transportation Authority
Maryland State Police
Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Marine
