shipping
Bridge collapse in Baltimore: cleanup work has begun
The salvage teams systematically cut off parts of the steel bridge using an exothermic cutting torch. photo
© Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly/US Coast Guard/AP/dpa
Adverse weather is making recovery work more difficult after the serious accident on the US East Coast. Steel weighing tons has to be lifted out of the water piece by piece.
After the collapse of a large highway bridge in the US state of Maryland, cleanup work has begun. The removal of the first parts of the collapsed bridge, which weighed several tons, began on the Easter weekend, according to the responsible authorities Baltimore announced. Among other things, massive steel beams had to be cut through and lifted out of the way using cranes. The first aim was to create a path through which other boats could reach the scene of the accident for rescue and clean-up work.
Last week, the container ship “Dali” rammed a support pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing the more than 2.5 kilometer long, four-lane highway bridge to collapse. Two people were rescued, several were killed.
Salvage work difficult
The bodies of two men have already been recovered from a pickup truck in seven meters of water, and the search is still underway for four missing people. Authorities assume they are dead. According to the information, the victims were construction workers of Latin American origin who were repairing potholes on the bridge at the time of the accident.
Adverse conditions also hampered the rescue work on Sunday, as the governor of the US state of Maryland, Wes Moore, announced. Because of the unstable weather, wind and debris, it has not yet been possible to send divers back into the water, Moore told CNN. It is an “incredibly complicated situation”.
Lots of steel rubble
Since the collision, the steel frame of the bridge has blocked passage out of the port, and the damaged ship is still at the scene of the accident. As a representative of the coast guard explained, the part of the bridge lying on the bow of the “Dali” is pushing the ship to the river bottom.
“We have a ship almost the size of the Eiffel Tower stuck in the canal and the Key Bridge is on top of it,” Governor Moore said of the massive scale. “So it’s going to be a long road.” At the same time, he emphasized that the work must progress quickly because of the economic importance of the port of Baltimore. The accident not only affects the region, but also “the farmer in Kentucky, the car dealer in Ohio and the restaurant owner in Tennessee.”
No timeline for cleanup
The port is one of the most important maritime ports of call in the USA – especially for the automotive industry. According to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, supply chain problems are looming nationwide. The US government has approved emergency aid worth $60 million (€55 million) for the state of Maryland. President Joe Biden plans to visit Baltimore this week.
Re-enabling access to the port is a priority, said Chris Van Hollen, Senator from Maryland, on ABC. The livelihoods of thousands of people depend on it. Transportation Secretary Buttigieg told CBS that there is currently no set schedule for the cleanup work.
Investigators question crew members
The investigation into the circumstances of the accident also progressed over the weekend. Representatives of the US agency responsible for transport safety, the NTSB, questioned the crew of the “Dali”. According to US media, this is on board to respond to possible emergencies. The crew members were also offered psychological help.
“We must have answers about what happened,” said Governor Moore. Those responsible must be held accountable. NTSB chief Jennifer Homendy had previously dampened expectations for a quick final clarification. A preliminary investigation report should be available in the coming weeks. According to initial findings, a power failure on the ship could have been the cause.