Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Here Are The Updates For The Logistics Industry (X image@zaid_yousafzsi)
Work is underway to clear the wreckage of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge more than a week after a cargo ship crashed into it, causing the span to collapse into the harbour and resulting in the tragic deaths of six construction workers.
Replacing the bridge is expected to be a lengthy process, but authorities have opened two temporary channels to accommodate shallow-draft vessels, such as barges and tugboats, to navigate around the damaged container vessel.
President Joe Biden visited Baltimore on Friday, offering federal assistance to rebuild the bridge, although some Republican lawmakers have expressed resistance to the idea.
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore disrupts crucial shipping routes accessing the Port of Baltimore, impacting maritime traffic along the Patapsco River and hindering connections to major trade routes serving the East Coast of the United States.
According to a logistics expert, the shipping channel remains blocked, despite ongoing efforts to clear a safe passage for shipping activities to resume. Several challenges have complicated survey and clean-up operations, including high winds, heavy rain, and poor visibility underwater.
The vessel Dali, which collided with the bridge, needs to be separated from the wreckage and towed to a safe berth. Hazardous units have been damaged, and many containers are dislodged, posing a danger to salvage operations.
A high-pressure gas line running across the bridge span is now beneath the vessel, further complicating the clean-up process. Steel cutting must be conducted underwater, requiring specialized equipment and expertise.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has created a first passage with limited draft for salvage craft. They anticipate opening a second, limited access channel to the Port of Baltimore within the next four weeks, allowing for one-way traffic for barge container service and select vessels.
USACE engineers aim to reopen the permanent federal navigation channel by the end of May, restoring port access to normal capacity. However, for larger commercial vessels, the port remains closed and inaccessible in the coming weeks.
As a result, service to and from Baltimore remains suspended, and cargo deliveries must be diverted to the closest port. The logistics industry is advised to stay updated on further developments as provided by authorities.
What happened on March 26, 2024
Shortly after 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT) on March 26, the container ship Dali was leaving Baltimore Harbour along the Patapsco River en route to Sri Lanka. At 1:24 a.m., a power failure occurred, plunging the ship into darkness. Just three minutes later, at 1:27 a.m., the vessel collided with a pylon of the bridge, leading to the collapse of nearly the entire span into the water. This incident could mark the most significant U.S. bridge collapse since the 2007 I-35W bridge disaster in Minneapolis, which claimed 13 lives due to a design flaw.
