Efforts to recover from the disaster at the Port of Baltimore continued after a bridge collapsed and left a container ship stranded.
A second channel is now available for smaller boats, but the wreckage still blocks larger commercial ships from using the main channel.
The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Maryland state officials are leading the recovery work. They are focused on clearing a channel with a depth of 14 feet, similar to the 11-foot depth achieved the previous day.
The main channel, crucial for large cargo ships, remains impassable due to debris from the collapsed bridge.
The Port of Baltimore, known for handling various goods, faces significant disruptions due to the incident.
Salvage teams are facing challenges in untangling the submerged steel structure of the collapsed bridge, which is slowing down recovery efforts.
Commercial shipping remains disrupted (Via Joyner West/Shutterstock)
Despite these challenges, some terminal operations outside the affected area have resumed. However, dismantling the underwater steel structure remains difficult for salvage crews.
Colonel Estee Pinchasin of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers emphasized the complexity of the situation. He highlighted the challenges in figuring out where and how to cut through the collapsed structure because it is flattened.
Sadly, four people are still trapped under the wreckage, and divers have found two bodies. President Joe Biden plans to visit the site on Friday to show federal support for the recovery work.
The Biden administration has already secured $60 million in emergency funding and is asking Congress for more money to rebuild the bridge. This bridge is crucial for Baltimore’s highway system.
