iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
A stranded cargo ship that has been blocking one of America’s busiest ports will be removed Monday, May 20, nearly two months after it struck and destroyed a bridge in Baltimore, authorities said over the weekend.
The ‘Dali’ has remained at the collapse site since it lost power and crashed into one of the bridge’s supporting columns on March 26, killing six construction workers and snarling traffic into Baltimore Harbour. The crew on board Dali included 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan, The Associated Press reported.
The Singapore-flagged ship lost power before it plowed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Mar 26, causing it to collapse and killing six construction workers who had been atop the major transit route, AFP reported.
The Dali experienced four electrical blackouts within about 10 hours before leaving the Port of Baltimore for Sri Lanka and hitting the bridge, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The complex operation would see the nearly 1,000-foot (300-meter) Dali container vessel transported to a marine terminal, marking a major step in reopening the key shipping channel.
Authorities leading the salvage operation said the Dali would be prepared for refloating from midday (1600 GMT) Sunday ahead of being moved at high tide on Monday, forecast for 5:24 am (Monday, 2.54pm IST), according to an AFP report.
Divers will first inspect the ship to ensure there are no obstructions after demolition experts last week used explosives to remove parts of the collapsed steel bridge trapping the Dali, which still has its 21-man crew onboard.
Up to five tugboats will escort the Dali on its 2.5-mile (4-kilometre) path to the marine terminal. The work is expected to last at least 21 hours, the Associated Press said. Maryland Governor Wes Moore told NBC News on Sunday he was “proud that we’re on track and by the end of May we’ll have that federal channel reopened.”
The port is a major hub for the auto industry, handling almost 850,000 autos and light trucks last year — more than any other US port, according to state figures. Crews conducted a controlled demolition on May 13 to break down the largest remaining span of the collapsed bridge.
