Baltimore, Maryland – Crews have been diligently preparing for a controlled demolition set to take place on Sunday, aimed at dismantling the largest remaining section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge that collapsed on March 26 after being struck by a massive container ship. The devastating incident left six roadwork crew members dead, all of whom were Latino immigrants working overnight to fill potholes when tragedy struck. The ship, named Dali, lost power and collided with one of the bridge’s support columns as it departed from Baltimore, subsequently becoming lodged in the wreckage and causing the closure of the city’s bustling port to maritime traffic.
The controlled demolition is a crucial step in freeing the Dali from its entrapment and allowing it to be guided back to the Port of Baltimore. Once the ship is removed, normal maritime traffic can resume, bringing relief to the many longshoremen, truckers, and small business owners whose livelihoods have been affected by the port’s closure. The 21-member crew of the Dali will remain onboard during the demolition, being ensured of their safety in a designated secure area.
Engineers overseeing the demolition process have employed precision cuts to strategically deconstruct the steel structure of the bridge, ensuring controlled breakage with minimal risk. The use of explosives will carefully dislodge the steel, allowing it to fall away from the Dali and into the water below. Following the demolition, hydraulic grabbers will lift the steel sections onto barges for removal.
Authorities have emphasized that the controlled demolition will not resemble a Hollywood spectacle, assuring that the process will sound like fireworks or thunder from a distance and emit puffs of smoke. The hope is to have the Dali removed by May 10, with plans to reopen the port’s main channel by the end of the month. Investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI are ongoing, targeting the ship’s electrical system as a focal point for examination.
The crew members of the Dali have been restricted to the vessel since the accident, with their time primarily spent maintaining the ship and cooperating with investigators. Of the crew, 20 are from India, and one is Sri Lankan. The aftermath of the bridge collapse has prompted a thorough inquiry into the circumstances leading up to the tragic event, with a focus on ensuring maritime safety moving forward.