Eight weeks after a massive cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the bridge to collapse, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore praised the speedy recovery efforts and expressed relief that the Dali had been removed from the crash site.
The successful mission to transport the Dali away from the wreckage of the bridge represents a major step forward to fully reopen the Port of Baltimore. It’s expected to reopen by the end of the month.
Moore said it was a "beautiful sight" when he didn't see the Dali in the middle of the channel in a press conference Tuesday morning, but he's pushing for the complete rebuilding of the Key Bridge.
“The mission’s not over. The work is not done," Moore said. "I will not be satisfied until I can look over this same sight and see the Francis Scott Key Bridge standing again."
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Nearly two months have passed since the Dali lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns, killing six construction workers and halting most maritime traffic through the Port of Baltimore.
Now that the Dali is back at a marine terminal, the effort continues to remove portions of the Key Bridge that are still on the ship. A salvage team continued removing steel from the water soon after the Dali departed, Moore said. He said more than 10,000 tons of steel have already been removed.
U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath said that crews are working to get the full, 700-foot-wide channel open to vessels. Later Tuesday, a 400-foot wide and 50-foot deep stretch is expected to open, he said.Local
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Earlier this week, Moore praised the cleanup and recovery for “achieving in a matter of weeks what many thought would take months.” He said Maryland will continue working to clear the channel, support the people affected and rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
The optimistic timeline to rebuild and reopen the Key Bridge is four years. Moore said it's an aggressive timeline that can be met with coordination and full financial support from Congress, including 100% cost sharing.
U.S. Senators and members of Congress from Maryland already introduced legislation that would "ensure the federal government supports 100 percent of the replacement of this critical bridge and its approaches in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County," Sen. Chris Van Hollen's office said in a press release.
The ship’s 21 crew members, most of whom are from India, had not been allowed off the vessel since the collapse. After the ship's return to shore, the workers will get to spend some time off the ship, Moore said.
The Dali is expected to remain in Baltimore for four to six weeks while crews work on repairs and remove debris from the ship.
The Dali is managed by Synergy Marine Group and owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd., both of Singapore.
The FBI has launched a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the crash.
The Dali experienced two electrical blackouts about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore on its way to Sri Lanka. The crew later made changes to the ship’s electrical configuration, switching to a transformer and breaker system that had previously been out of use for several months, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report.
Two more blackouts left the Dali without propulsion, drifting off course just as it was approaching the Key Bridge. By then, two tugboats that had guided the Dali out of port had peeled off — normal protocol, according to the report — but when the power went out, the tugs were too far away to help avert disaster.
Moore called the NTSB's initial findings "troubling" and said those responsible must be held fully accountable, although it will be a lengthy process.
