A colossal crane approached the scene of devastation in Baltimore on Friday, poised to tackle the arduous task of clearing up to 4,000 tons of precarious debris hindering search efforts following the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier in the week.
The mammoth crane, hailed as the largest on the East Coast, was dispatched to the Patapsco River site where a 984-foot cargo vessel collided with the bridge on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, with four still missing.
The primary objective of the crane is to expedite the monumental challenge of removing hazardous debris, allowing search teams to resume efforts to locate the missing victims and restore access to a crucial cargo channel vital to both local and national economies.
Accompanying the crane, three heavy lift vessels are slated to arrive on Friday, according to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Nevertheless, workers at the scene are confronted with “an incredibly complex job,” as described by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Thursday.
“When you have a chance to see that wreckage up close, you fully understand the enormity of the challenge,” Governor Moore remarked. “Our timeline will be long.”
Remnants of steel, concrete, and other debris litter the crash site. The cargo ship, spanning approximately three football fields in length, bears the weight of up to 4,000 tons of steel framing lodged at its bow following the collision with the Key Bridge.
While the recovery of the missing victims remains paramount, officials must conduct a comprehensive assessment of the debris pieces before they can be extracted from the water, emphasized US Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath. This evaluation is critical in determining the size required to section the bridge pieces for removal by cranes.
In addition to the human toll, the destruction of the Key Bridge and subsequent closure of the Port of Baltimore could precipitate widespread economic repercussions.
“The port handles more cars and more farm equipment than any other port in America,” Governor Moore emphasized. “And at least 8,000 workers on the docks have jobs that have been directly affected by this collapse.”
To aid port workers impacted by the crisis, the Maryland Department of Labor has established a hotline for unemployment insurance, Governor Moore disclosed.
As ports along the East Coast prepare to accommodate cargo shipments temporarily redirected from Baltimore, Buttigieg stressed the substantial endeavor required to manage supply chain disruptions and restore port operations to normalcy.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been actively investigating the incident, gathering evidence, conducting witness interviews, and analyzing data recordings from the ship.
While the investigation continues, the scale of devastation observed at the crash site underscores the gravity of the situation, remarked NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy.
The Dali, a container vessel flagged from Singapore, was carrying 23 individuals at the time of the collision. All crew members, predominantly Indian nationals, remain aboard the vessel, with only one sustaining minor injuries.