Officials in Baltimore are set to open a new 35-foot deep channel for commercial ships on Thursday, a significant development following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month. This deeper channel, ahead of schedule, will allow five of the seven cargo ships stranded in the harbor to pass through, including a loaded car carrier.
The bridge collapse occurred when a cargo ship, the Dali, lost power and veered off course shortly after departing the Port of Baltimore. Tragically, six roadwork crew members lost their lives in the incident, with recovery efforts ongoing to locate the remaining two missing individuals.
Family members of the victims have been granted visitor visas to attend memorial services and repatriate their loved ones. Immigrant aid organizations have been assisting in this process, with several family members already arriving in the U.S.
Salvage crews have cleared over 2,900 tons of debris to open the new channel temporarily for essential vessels. The channel will close again in early May to facilitate the removal and refloating of the Dali. Once this process is complete, the port's main channel, with a depth of 50 feet, is expected to reopen, restoring marine traffic to normal.
Efforts are underway to determine liability for the bridge collapse, with the city filing a petition to hold the Dali's owner and manager fully accountable. The economic impact of the incident on the region, including disruptions to trucking routes, is a significant concern for officials.
