Dozens of containers onboard the cargo ship that toppled the Baltimore Key Bridge contain hazardous materials, according to Coast Guard officials. The Dali tanker ship had 56 containers with hazardous materials out of a total of 4,700 containers when it hit the bridge. However, most of the dangerous containers were not affected by the collision, so there is no immediate threat to the public. The Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers will lead the cleanup efforts to remove the ship, the remains of the bridge, and any vehicles trapped below in the river.
The massive container ship is stuck in place due to a piece of the bridge being on its bow, making removal difficult. The weight of the bridge debris is holding the vessel down, so coordinated efforts with the Army Corps of Engineers will be required to remove the debris from the ship first before it can be moved. Divers have retrieved two bodies from the river but have had to pause the search for the remaining missing individuals due to the unstable and dangerous rubble beneath the water. Once the wreck is cleared, divers will resume their efforts to recover the other bodies.
The Dali, the Singapore-flagged container ship that caused the bridge collapse, reportedly lost propulsion and tried to give warning before the crash. Two people have been rescued from the river, while six others remain unaccounted for. Search parties are using sonar technology to locate the seven vehicles that fell from the bridge. The Dali was also involved in a collision in 2016 while leaving the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. The collapse is impacting one of the busiest ports in the US and could disrupt billions of dollars in cargo and thousands of jobs.
At least six construction workers on the bridge were killed in the collapse, with hopes to clear the wreckage to restore shipping access to the Port of Baltimore. The government plans to eventually rebuild the bridge, but it is expected to take years before completion. The Transportation Secretary has assured that while it will be a challenging and lengthy process, the community will come together to rebuild the bridge. The incident has caused significant disruption to the port’s operations and threatens to impact the local economy. It will be a difficult and expensive endeavor to reconstruct the bridge, but it is necessary for the port’s operations and the community.
The bridge collapse has caused significant damage and loss of life, with six construction workers killed in the disaster. The collapsed remains of the bridge are impeding access to one of the US’s busiest ports, creating challenges for shipping and cargo operations. The government is focused on clearing the wreckage to reopen access to the port, which is critical for the economy. The rebuilding process is expected to be lengthy and costly, but efforts will be made to restore the bridge and resume operations. It will take time, effort, and financial resources to rebuild the bridge and ensure the continued functioning of the port.
