The container ship Dali, which made headlines nearly eight weeks ago after ramming into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, has finally been successfully moved back to the Port of Baltimore. The ship’s journey back to the port was surrounded by tugboats, marking a crucial step in reopening the main channel to the port.
The incident on March 26 resulted in the collapse of the bridge, killing six workers and blocking the waterway with debris, disrupting the commerce of the shipping hub. The salvage and recovery operation involved over a thousand workers and various equipment, with temporary channels opening in the weeks following the accident.
Moving the 947-foot-long Dali was a complex and risky task, as the ship was pinned in place by mangled steel and containers. Crews had to remove containers and detonate charges to clear the wreckage before the ship could be moved. The final preparation to move the ship began Sunday afternoon, with the ship finally setting sail back to the port on Monday morning.
Federal investigators are still looking into the cause of the accident, with a preliminary report suggesting electrical failures on the ship may have contributed to the incident. The crew will remain aboard the ship at dockside, while the remaining cargo will be removed and delivered to customers by Maersk, the shipping company that chartered the vessel.
The reopening of the permanent channel to the port is crucial for returning the port to its usual traffic, with authorities aiming to achieve this by the end of May. The successful relocation of the Dali marks a significant milestone in the recovery efforts following the tragic accident.
