Maritime traffic is still slow through the Patapsco River under the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. There is only one shipping terminal currently operating in the Port of Baltimore, and traffic is anticipated to spike with ships arriving for the clean-up operations.
Tradepoint Atlantic in Sparrows Point is the only port still accessible to ships. AP reports that it will unload and process 10,000 vehicles over the next two weeks. Access to the port’s main terminals remains blocked, creating a “logistical nightmare,” as many have described the last few days.
The Baltimore area has become a recovery operation, with officials trying to remove the wreckage and barricading shipments through the busy route.
More than a week ago a Singapore-flagged container ship collided with the bridge. It’s alleged that the container ship lost power and crashed into a supporting column of the bridge. It’s understood that 4,000 tons of debris is still tangled up around the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Earlier this week, a temporary alternative channel was opened for vessels to help clear the wreckage. This was just one phase of an elaborate plan to clear the main shipping channel.
US president to visit site
US President Joe Biden is expected to visit the scene on Friday. He plans to meet with state and local officials.
It’s here where two construction workers’ bodies were discovered. They were part of a group of eight working on the bridge at the time of the collision. However, their bodies cannot be recovered until the entire wreck has been removed from the water.
Two workers who fell into the water were rescued. Four others are still unaccounted for.
The state has approved a $60 million emergency aid to help rebuild the bridge. However, experts are warning that this project could take over a year to be completed.
Next steps for Baltimore
While the immediate priority is to clear the wreck and get vessel traffic back to normal, officials are also trying to determine the extent of the rebuilding project. Engineers have not yet been able to fully assess what is needed.
Not only has it affected multiple businesses in trade, but it’s also affecting jobs. With the prolonged closure of the port, breadwinners might be without jobs, making it unbearable to survive during this time.
Meanwhile, a second temporary channel has now been opened, allowing a small amount of vessel traffic to bypass the wreckage. There are reports of a third channel that might be opening soon to alleviate the bottleneck. Currently, the channels are only open for clean-up operations, not business.
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About the author
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
