BALTIMORE (US) - Rescue teams on Sunday began removing containers from the deck of a cargo ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore and collapsed, completely reopening one of the country's main shipping lanes. This is an important step towards opening up.
According to a statement from the Key Bridge Response Unified Command, work to remove containers from the deck of the pier will continue on this day, weather permitting. The statement said crews are moving forward to remove parts of the bridge at the bow of the ship so the ship can move forward.
A total of 32 ships passed through temporary channels on either side of the wreck, officials said.
"Unified Command is moving forward on its main effort to remove enough debris to open the channel to larger commercial traffic," U.S. Guard Capt. David O'Connell said in the statement.
The cast, which is operated by a mostly Indian crew, has been stuck under damaged steel in the Patapsco River since it hit the bridge on March 26, killing sea workers.
President Joe Biden on Friday toured a helicopter with a group of construction and rescue equipment trying to remove the damaged remains of metal and debris. The President met the families of those killed for more than an hour.
Eight workers - immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - were filling potholes on the bridge when the bridge collapsed in the middle of the night. Two people were rescued and the bodies of three others were recovered in the following days. The search for other victims continued.
Authorities have established a temporary, alternative channel for ships engaged in debris removal. The White House said the Army Corps of Engineers hopes to have a limited-access channel open to barge container ships and some vessels carrying cars and remote equipment by the end of April and the Port of Baltimore to reach normal capacity by May 31. Will be restored.
More than 50 rescue divers and 12 cranes are on site to help cut away sections of the bridge and remove them from the main waterway.
According to a statement from the Key Bridge Response Unified Command, work to remove containers from the deck of the pier will continue on this day, weather permitting. The statement said crews are moving forward to remove parts of the bridge at the bow of the ship so the ship can move forward.
A total of 32 ships passed through temporary channels on either side of the wreck, officials said.
"Unified Command is moving forward on its main effort to remove enough debris to open the channel to larger commercial traffic," U.S. Guard Capt. David O'Connell said in the statement.
The cast, which is operated by a mostly Indian crew, has been stuck under damaged steel in the Patapsco River since it hit the bridge on March 26, killing sea workers.
President Joe Biden on Friday toured a helicopter with a group of construction and rescue equipment trying to remove the damaged remains of metal and debris. The President met the families of those killed for more than an hour.
Eight workers - immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador - were filling potholes on the bridge when the bridge collapsed in the middle of the night. Two people were rescued and the bodies of three others were recovered in the following days. The search for other victims continued.
Authorities have established a temporary, alternative channel for ships engaged in debris removal. The White House said the Army Corps of Engineers hopes to have a limited-access channel open to barge container ships and some vessels carrying cars and remote equipment by the end of April and the Port of Baltimore to reach normal capacity by May 31. Will be restored.
More than 50 rescue divers and 12 cranes are on site to help cut away sections of the bridge and remove them from the main waterway.
