NEW DELHI: The Singapore-flagged stranded cargo ship Dali, which has been obstructing one of America’s busiest ports for nearly two months since it collided with and demolished a bridge in Baltimore, will be removed on Monday, authorities announced.
In this operation, a nearly 1,000-foot (300-meter) Dali container vessel will be transported to a marine terminal.This will also give a sight of relief to all the crew members who were also stuck in the ship.
Since Dali crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, the 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan on board had no cell phones as they were confiscated by the FBI and endured a series of controlled explosions to break apart a massive piece of bridge stuck atop the ship’s bow.
After the FBI boarded the Dali and seized the seamen’s cell phones, a wave of anxiety permeated the ship, according to a joint statement from the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union, which represents the ship’s officers, and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen, which represents the other crew members, as per CNN.
Dali lost power before crashing into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in its collapse and the tragic deaths of six construction workers who were atop the major transit route.
The accident prompted the closure of the port, although temporary channels have facilitated limited traffic in and out of Baltimore.
Authorities overseeing the salvage operation stated that preparations for refloating the Dali would commence from midday (1600 GMT) Sunday, preceding its relocation during high tide on Monday, forecast for 5:24 am.
Initially, divers will inspect the ship to ensure there are no obstructions, following last week’s use of explosives by demolition experts to remove sections of the collapsed steel bridge trapping the Dali, which still houses its 21-man crew.
Subsequently, salvagers will extract up to 1.25 million gallons (4.7 million liters) of water, previously pumped into the Dali for stabilization as ballast, before releasing its anchors and mooring lines.
Tugboats will then tow the Dali at approximately 1 mile per hour (1.6 kilometers per hour) to a nearby marine terminal, with the journey expected to span three hours.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed to NBC News on Sunday his satisfaction with the progress, stating, “I’m proud that we’re on track and by the end of May we’ll have that federal channel reopened.”
Authorities have been tirelessly working to clear the collapsed bridge and resume waterway traffic, crucial for the port’s operations as a key hub for the auto industry, handling nearly 850,000 autos and light trucks last year—more than any other US port, according to state data.
In April, the FBI initiated a criminal investigation into the incident, with agents boarding the Dali as part of their inquiries.
The National Transportation Safety Board, also investigating, disclosed on Tuesday that the ship experienced two electrical blackouts moments before the disaster. Additionally, the crew underwent multiple drug and alcohol tests, both before and after the incident, all of which returned negative results.
(With inputs from agencies)
In this operation, a nearly 1,000-foot (300-meter) Dali container vessel will be transported to a marine terminal.This will also give a sight of relief to all the crew members who were also stuck in the ship.
Since Dali crashed into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, the 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan on board had no cell phones as they were confiscated by the FBI and endured a series of controlled explosions to break apart a massive piece of bridge stuck atop the ship’s bow.
After the FBI boarded the Dali and seized the seamen’s cell phones, a wave of anxiety permeated the ship, according to a joint statement from the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union, which represents the ship’s officers, and the Singapore Organisation of Seamen, which represents the other crew members, as per CNN.
Dali lost power before crashing into a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in its collapse and the tragic deaths of six construction workers who were atop the major transit route.
The accident prompted the closure of the port, although temporary channels have facilitated limited traffic in and out of Baltimore.
Authorities overseeing the salvage operation stated that preparations for refloating the Dali would commence from midday (1600 GMT) Sunday, preceding its relocation during high tide on Monday, forecast for 5:24 am.
Initially, divers will inspect the ship to ensure there are no obstructions, following last week’s use of explosives by demolition experts to remove sections of the collapsed steel bridge trapping the Dali, which still houses its 21-man crew.
Subsequently, salvagers will extract up to 1.25 million gallons (4.7 million liters) of water, previously pumped into the Dali for stabilization as ballast, before releasing its anchors and mooring lines.
Tugboats will then tow the Dali at approximately 1 mile per hour (1.6 kilometers per hour) to a nearby marine terminal, with the journey expected to span three hours.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore expressed to NBC News on Sunday his satisfaction with the progress, stating, “I’m proud that we’re on track and by the end of May we’ll have that federal channel reopened.”
Authorities have been tirelessly working to clear the collapsed bridge and resume waterway traffic, crucial for the port’s operations as a key hub for the auto industry, handling nearly 850,000 autos and light trucks last year—more than any other US port, according to state data.
In April, the FBI initiated a criminal investigation into the incident, with agents boarding the Dali as part of their inquiries.
The National Transportation Safety Board, also investigating, disclosed on Tuesday that the ship experienced two electrical blackouts moments before the disaster. Additionally, the crew underwent multiple drug and alcohol tests, both before and after the incident, all of which returned negative results.
(With inputs from agencies)
