Teams are gearing up to use controlled explosives to demolish a significant part of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge resting atop the cargo vessel Dali in Baltimore. Since March, the vessel has been stranded with its crew of 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan after colliding with the bridge.
The Key Bridge Response Unified Command plans to employ precision cuts using small charges to remove the large bridge wreckage from the Dali safely. This method breaks the span into smaller pieces, aiding in the vessel’s refloating and removal from the federal channel.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, spanning 2.6 kilometres over the Patapsco River, collapsed on March 26 after colliding with the 984-foot ship ‘Dali.’ The crew, comprising 20 Indians and one Sri Lankan, has remained aboard, cooperating with investigations.
The timing of the precision cuts depends on various environmental and operational factors. Using small charges, a standard controlled demolition tool, the large truss section will be split, allowing salvors to remove these sections and subsequently extricate the Dali from the channel.
“We remain focused on restoring the Marine Transportation System while ensuring public and environmental safety,” stated Capt. David O’Connell, Key Bridge Response Federal On-Scene Coordinator. The Unified Command, in coordination with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, has issued cellular notifications to nearby communities ahead of the controlled demolition.
Hearing protection beyond the 2,000-yard noise radius is not necessary, as sound levels outside this area will be comparable to a standard fireworks display and last for 2-5 seconds. Similar methods were previously employed for the controlled demolition of the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in March 2023 in Charles County, Maryland.
US authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the bridge collapse, examining whether the ship’s crew, including Indians, departed the port despite knowing about serious systems issues. The Singapore-flagged Dali is owned by Grace Ocean Pte Ltd and managed by Synergy Marine Group. Following the accident, US authorities began interviewing personnel, including Indian crew members, aboard the Dali as part of the investigation.
