The US Army Corps of Engineers has announced a “tentative” timeline for the reopening of the vital shipping channel near the Port of Baltimore, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge.
The Corps said it expects to open a channel 280-feet wide and 35-feet deep by the end of April, and reopen the permanent 700-foot wide, 50-foot deep channel by the end of May.
Currently, vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore remains suspended. Trucks however are still being processed inside the facility’s marine terminals.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we continue to work through this unimaginable situation. We thank all of our incredible federal, state, and local partners who are working around the clock to make this happen,” the Corps said in a statement on Thursday evening.
“We remind everyone to keep their thoughts on the families that have suffered unreplaceable losses. Thank you to all of our valued business partners for your continued support of the Port of Baltimore during this incredibly difficult time.”
Speculation as to when the channel and port will reopen properly has swirled following the incident, which took place last month. Maryland Governor Wes Moore previously indicated that the mission to reopen the port will take longer than a month.
Despite the efforts, temporary channels opened this week do not mean that one of America’s biggest trade ports is now functioning again.
Larger commercial ships, including the Dali – the cargo ship that collided with the bridge – are still unable to leave the harbour as debris remains in the channel blocking its path. The Dali crew members still remain stuck on board the ship.
New footage showed dive teams entering the water around the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in – revealing the challenging conditions authorities are working in to remove the debris.
President Joe Biden is due to travel to Baltimore on Friday where he will receive an “operational update” on efforts from Governor Moore, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other elected officials.
Six men died in the incident and Mr Biden is due to meet their loved ones as part of his visit, according to the White House.
“The president is continuing to lead a whole of-government approach in responding to the bridge collapse. As the president said within hours of the collapse, this administration will be with the people of Baltimore every step of the way,” White House press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the owners of the Dali have denied responsibility for the deadly crash and are seeking to limit their legal liability.
Grace Ocean Private Limited, the ship’s owner, and the manager Synergy Marine Pte said in a federal court filing on Monday that they denied any fault or neglect of the collapse of the bridge and the deaths of the six construction workers.
The companies are asking for exoneration from liability, but if they are held responsible in lawsuits, the companies are asking for a cap on any payout.
