A crucial piece of equipment has arrived at the scene of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, promising to accelerate the salvage operations and recovery of the estimated 50,000 tons of wreckage. After completing a week-long barge journey from Galveston, Texas, a massive 200-ton hydraulic salvage grab docked at Sparrows Point this weekend, ready to lend its formidable capabilities to the ongoing efforts.
Boasting an impressive 1,000-metric-ton capacity, the salvage grab is expected to play a pivotal role in recovering a significant portion of the wreckage, according to a tweet from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Baltimore District (USACE Baltimore).
The catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge occurred on March 26 when it was struck by the cargo ship Dali, which had veered off course. The incident resulted in a devastating loss of life, with six roadwork crew members perishing, while two bodies remain unaccounted for amid the wreckage.
Since the collapse, a monumental task has been underway to clear the site and pave the way for the eventual reconstruction of the vital 1.6-mile-long bridge span. With the arrival of the 200-ton hydraulic salvage grab, the recovery efforts are poised to receive a significant boost in efficiency and progress.
The salvage grab’s immense size and lifting capacity will enable crews to extract and remove larger sections of the wreckage more efficiently, expediting the process of clearing the area. This specialized equipment is expected to play a crucial role in the coming weeks and months as the recovery operations continue to unfold.
As the Francis Scott Key Bridge recovery efforts forge ahead, the arrival of the 200-ton hydraulic salvage grab represents a significant milestone, providing a powerful tool to aid in the herculean task of salvaging the wreckage and ultimately paving the way for the reconstruction of this critical infrastructure link.