The U.S. Corps of Engineers announced, in a written statement, a tentative timeline for the restoration for safe navigation in and out of the Port of Baltimore. The Port of Baltimore should reopen, with limited access, by the end of April and completely reopen to shipping by the end of May.
The Corps said the channel would support one-way traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore for barge container service and some roll-on/roll-off vessels that move automobiles and farm equipment to and from the port. USACE expects to open a limited access channel 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore by the end of April.
USACE engineers are aiming to reopen the permanent, 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep federal navigation Fort McHenry Channel by the end of May, restoring port access to normal capacity.
Corps Commanding General Lt. Gen. Scott A. Spellmon said “Thanks to the exhaustive work of the Unified Command during the last two weeks, including underwater surveys and detailed structural analysis of the wreckage, we’ve developed a better understanding of the immense and complex work that lies ahead. A fully opened federal channel remains our primary goal, and we will carry out this work with care and precision, with safety as our chief priority. We are working quickly and safely to clear the channel and restore full service at this port that is so vital to the nation.”
Crews are working to rig up some of the shipping containers that are on the bow of the Dali and move them to Tradepoint Atlantic, officials with the Unified Command reported.
The latest updates on incident response can be found at the following URL:
https://www.keybridgeresponse2024.com
The Unified Command’s operational priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, accountability of missing persons, safely restoring transportation infrastructure and commerce, protecting the environment, and supporting the investigation.
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