A 12 m deep channel will open in Baltimore today allowing five stranded ships to leave the port, a sign of swift progress in the complex salvage operation at the US east coast city where port activity has been badly hit following a containership allision with a bridge last month.
The US Army Corps of Engineers had earlier this month opened three shallow, temporary channels under parts of the downed Francis Scott Key Bridge, allowing some small craft and salvage vessels to enter and exit the port as the bridge is removed. The new 12 m deep channel is a big step up.
Five of the seven ships that have been stuck in Baltimore’s harbour will be able to pass through the new 12 m deep channel, including one loaded car carrier.
The news of a deeper channel puts the clean-up operation about a week ahead of schedule.
Singaporean shipowner Grace Ocean and shipmanager Synergy Group face trial in Baltimore after lawyers for the city filed a case this week, claiming that their ship, the 9,962 teu Dali, that knocked over the huge bridge killing six people last month had left port with “unseaworthy” conditions.
The port’s main channel, with a 15m depth, is set to reopen next month after the ship has been removed.
The official bridge clean-up team has provided an update (see below) of what parts of the bridge have been cleared in the nearly one month since the accident.