The refloat and transit of the M/V Dali from its current location to a local marine terminal has begun morning.

Safety remains the Unified Command’s emphasis, as it has been during the execution of all tasks in the nearly eight weeks of salvage operations.

The refloat and transit sequence is deliberately designed to ensure all response personnel around the M/V Dali maintain control of the vessel, from refloat, transit to, and berthing at a local marine terminal.

Refloat: Optimum conditions call for the transit of the M/V Dali to commence at high tide at 5:24 a.m. The vessel was prepared at 2 a.m., allowing the M/V Dali to catch the peak high tide for a controlled transit.
■   The entire refloat sequence (prior to high-tide transit) began roughly 18 hours beforehand, midday on Sunday.

■   Example checklist items in this 18-hour countdown include:

o   Release of some of the anchors and mooring lines currently attached to the M/V Dali (nearby tugboats on standby).

o   De-ballasting of part or all of the 1.25 million gallons of water pumped onto the M/V Dali, to compensate for the weight removed during the May 13 precision cutting.

o   Detailed inspections confirming all obstructions have been removed on the left (port) side of the M/V Dali by Unified Command dive survey teams.

Transit to Marine Terminal:

Once free of its current position, five tugboats will escort the M/V Dali the 2.5-mile distance to the local marine terminal.
■      The Dali will be escorted by tugboats as they tow/push the cargo vessel at roughly 1 mph on its transit to the marine terminal.

■      Last week, a survey vessel confirmed a clear path for the M/V Dali to safely transit to the marine terminal.

■      The marine terminal is a TWIC-controlled facility; entry is strictly controlled.

■      Once the vessel is in transit to the marine terminal, the Unified Command will issue a media advisory to subscribers of the Key Bridge Response website. https://www.keybridgeresponse2024.com/newsroom

■      Because the entire refloat and transit sequence is likely to take 21 hours or longer, the Unified Command is not hosting a media availability for this milestone. However, four time-lapse cameras have been placed at key points along the refloat and transit route. The Unified Command will release a montage to the media as soon as it becomes available.

■      Graphic courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.