The M/V Dali ship was successfully refloated and relocated by the Key Bridge Response Unified Command after an extensive salvage operation.

The vessel, which has slowed operations in the Port of Baltimore for nearly two months, was towed to a nearby port early Monday morning (May 20, 2024).

The operation, which included five tugboats and additional support vessels, began around 6:40 a.m. EDT.

By 9 a.m., the M/V Dali had been transported 2.5 miles to a port, a critical step forward in the port’s recovery operations.

On March 26, the M/V Dali hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and, unfortunately, killing six road workers.

The incident, caused by the ship losing electrical power many times before the disaster, has significantly hampered operations at one of the busiest ports in the United States for car shipments.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced that the channel would be cleared by the end of the month, restoring full port access.

Authorities had already opened four temporary routes to allow limited shipping to continue.

The process of refloating the M/V Dali was rigorous.

Last week, controlled blasts removed a section of the collapsed bridge blocking the vessel.

Following the wreckage removal with cranes and barges, the ship was stabilized by drawing out up to 1.25 million gallons of ballast water.

The M/V Dali, a 106,000-ton Singapore-flagged vessel, was en route to Sri Lanka at the time of the catastrophe.

The crew of 21, including 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan, remained on board during the salvage operations.

Despite major logistical problems, the operation required the cooperation of several organizations, including the Coast Guard, the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and the Maryland Department of the Environment.

The FBI opened a criminal investigation following the collision, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an inquiry into the incident.

According to preliminary reports, the ship had electrical issues shortly before crashing.

The cost of reconstructing the Francis Scott Key Bridge is predicted to be between $1.7 billion and $1.9 billion, with completion expected in the fall of 2028.

President Joe Biden has offered federal assistance for the project, emphasizing the need to reopen the critical shipping channel by the end of May.

The port, critical to the automobile industry, processed roughly 850,000 cars and light trucks last year.

The successful relocation of the M/V Dali is a critical step toward resuming normal operations and reducing the economic effect of the bridge collapse.

Reference: USACE, NDTV