On Friday, officials leading the response to the Key Bridge collapse provided an update on the extensive debris removal and wreckage clearing operations underway. Representatives from various state and local agencies, such as the Baltimore Mayor’s Office and the Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management, are collaborating closely with the unified command overseeing the efforts.

A primary focus has been the meticulous removal of containers from the vessel known as The Dali, which became entangled with the collapsed bridge sections. This arduous task is critical to gaining full access to the bridge wreckage resting atop the ship. As of April 11th, crews have successfully transferred approximately 38 containers off the vessel, with more removals planned in the coming days, weather permitting.

According to Mayor Brandon Scott’s team, clearing these containers is an essential prerequisite to safely relocating The Dali and ultimately reopening the vital Fort McHenry Channel to maritime traffic. By removing the bridge debris weighing down the ship’s bow, the vessel can be maneuvered, facilitating the full restoration of the navigation channel.

Concurrently, crews are working diligently to dismantle and clear away the submerged remnants of bridge span 19 and a section of span 17. The resulting debris is being transported to a facility in Sparrows Point for proper processing and recycling.

While maritime passage remains restricted, temporary alternate channels have allowed 69 vessels to transit through the area since the incident occurred.

Colonel Estee Pinchasin, representing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Baltimore District within the unified command, praised the remarkable progress achieved this week. “Our dedicated team of local, state, federal, and community responders has made incredible strides toward our goal of reopening the limited access deep draft channel,” she stated. “Their focus remains squarely on the safe and efficient removal of debris and wreckage from the federal waterway.”

The unified command comprises the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland State Police, and Witt O’Brien’s, acting on behalf of Synergy Marine.

As the extensive cleanup and recovery operations continue, the unified command’s priorities are ensuring public and responder safety, accounting for any missing individuals, and facilitating the eventual restoration of vital transportation infrastructure in the area.

The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command includes the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland State Police, and Witt O’Brien’s, representing Synergy Marine.

Other Key Bridge cleanup efforts include:

• Salvage and wreckage removal crews continue operations on the collapsed Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, April 10, 2024. Debris and wreckage removal is ongoing in support of a top priority to safely and efficiently open the Fort McHenry Channel.
• Salvage crews from the Key Bridge Response Unified Command remove wreckage from the collapsed bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, April 8, 2024. Debris and wreckage removal is ongoing in support of a top priority to safely and efficiently open to the Fort McHenry Channel.
• Contracted salvors continue to remove bridge wreckage from the Patapsco River in efforts to reopen the shipping channel in Baltimore, April 10, 2024. Debris and wreckage removal is ongoing in support of a top priority to safely and efficiently open the Fort McHenry channel.

As the cleanup efforts continue, the Unified Command remains committed to ensuring the safety of the public and responders, accounting for missing persons, and safely restoring transportation in the area.