By LEA SKENE and BRIAN WITTE (Associated Press)
Maryland Governor Wes Moore cautioned on Thursday that it will take a long time to recover from the loss of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. At the same time, the Biden administration has given the green light for $60 million in immediate federal aid after the tragic collapse.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is relocating the largest crane on the Eastern Seaboard to assist in removing the bridge wreckage, as stated by Moore. This will allow work to clear the channel and reopen the critical shipping route. It is anticipated that the machine, capable of lifting up to 1,000 tons, will arrive on Thursday evening. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen mentioned that a second crane with a 400-ton capacity might arrive on Saturday.
At an evening news conference, Moore expressed the state’s deep gratitude for the federal funds and support.
Moore assured on Thursday that the most skilled individuals globally are developing plans to clear the debris, relocate the cargo ship that collided with the bridge from the channel, retrieve the bodies of the four remaining workers presumed dead, and scrutinize the cause of the incident.
Moore, a Democrat, stated that the government is collaborating with the industry to probe the area, including the wreckage, and to move the ship. He emphasized the urgent need for swift assistance to establish the groundwork for a rapid recovery. President Biden has pledged that the federal government will cover the entire cost of reconstructing the bridge.
Moore underscored the extensive duration of the work ahead, emphasizing that it will not be a matter of hours, days, or weeks, but rather a very long road.
Van Hollen mentioned that 32 members of the Army Corps of Engineers are evaluating the collapse site, and 38 Navy contractors are involved in the salvage operation.
The aftermath following the collision of the powerless cargo ship with a support pillar early Tuesday is severe. Divers retrieved the bodies of two men from a pickup truck in the Patapsco River near the bridge’s middle span on Wednesday. However, officials stated that the wreckage needs to be cleared before reaching the bodies of the other four missing workers.
According to state police, based on sonar scans, the vehicles seem to be covered in a concrete and debris "superstructure."
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board boarded the Dali ship to gather data from its electronics and documentation. They also conducted interviews with the captain and crew members. Investigators shared a preliminary timeline of events before the crash, which both federal and state officials described as an accident.
Moore stated on Thursday that the most brilliant minds worldwide are uniting to gather the necessary information swiftly and safely for the response to this collapse.
Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, informed reporters that of the 21 crew members on the ship, 20 are from India. One crew member sustained minor injuries and needed stitches, but all are in good health, as Jaiswal reported.
The victims, who were part of a construction crew repairing potholes on the bridge, were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, as confirmed by Butler. At least eight individuals initially fell into the water when the ship collided with the bridge column, with two of them being rescued on Tuesday, according to officials.
The accident made the bridge break and fall into the water very quickly. Officials were able to stop the cars, but didn't have time to warn the construction crew.
At the Baltimore Orioles’ first game of the season on Thursday, Sgt. Paul Pastorek, Cpl. Jeremy Herbert and Officer Garry Kirts of the Maryland Transportation Authority were recognized for their actions in halting bridge traffic and preventing further loss of life.
They stated that they were proud to fulfill their duties as state officers in order to save as many lives as possible.
The Dali, managed by Synergy Marine Group, was traveling from Baltimore to Sri Lanka. It is owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and was chartered by Danish shipping giant Maersk.
In an early Thursday statement, Synergy expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
Synergy expressed deep regret for the incident and the impact on the people of Baltimore and the region’s economy, which relies on the important port. They stated they would continue to cooperate with investigators.
Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333, mentioned that the union is working hard to assist its approximately 2,400 members whose jobs are at risk until shipping can resume in the Port of Baltimore.
He mentioned, “If there’s no ships, there’s no work. We’re doing everything we can.”
The large vessel was carrying nearly 4,700 shipping containers, 56 of which contained hazardous materials. Thirteen of those were destroyed, according to officials. However, industrial hygienists identified them as perfumes and soaps, according to the Key Bridge Joint Information Center.
The center stated that there was no immediate danger to the environment.
Booms were set up to control the spread of any oil, and state environmental officials were collecting water samples on Thursday.
An expert mentioned that commercial divers sent to work under the bridge debris and container ship will face difficult conditions, including poor visibility and moving currents.
Donald Gibbons, an instructor with the Eastern Atlantic States Carpenters Technical Centers, said, “Debris can be dangerous, especially when you can’t see what’s right in front of you.”
The sudden loss of a highway that carries 30,000 vehicles a day and the port disruption will affect not only thousands of dockworkers and commuters but also U.S. consumers, who are likely to feel the impact of shipping delays.
The governors of New York and New Jersey offered to handle disrupted cargo shipments to try to reduce supply chain issues.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who met with supply chain officials on Thursday, stated that the Biden administration was focused on reopening the port and rebuilding the bridge, but did not specify a timeline for these efforts.
The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure reported 35 major bridge collapses worldwide caused by ship or barge collisions from 1960 to 2015.
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Witte reported from Annapolis, Maryland. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Sarah Brumfield in Washington and Krutika Pathi in New Delhi.
