Cargo ship that hit Baltimore bridge moves back to port
The ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has been re-floated after being stuck for nearly eight weeks.
The vessel, named Dali, was moved by tugboats under “favourable environmental conditions,” according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The Dali crashed on March 26, resulting in the collapse of the bridge and the deaths of six construction workers. The ship lost power, veered off course, and struck the bridge, causing approximately 4,000 tonnes of debris to fall into the Patapsco River and trapping the vessel. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The 948-foot (289-meter) ship remained at the site, covered in scrap metal from the bridge until a controlled demolition last week removed some debris.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, moving the Dali to a nearby terminal would take approximately 21 hours. This required emptying the ship’s ballast tanks, which had been filled with water to prevent swaying, allowing the vessel to rise from the riverbed.
At high tide around 0700 EST (1200 BST), five tugboats and several other vessels began relocating the re-floated Dali 2.5 miles (4 kilometres) to a nearby marine terminal. Debris and parts of the roadway remain visible atop the ship, which is still heavily damaged.
Officials said the ship is expected to remain at the terminal for four to six weeks before being moved to Norfolk, Virginia, for further repairs.