largest crane on Eastern Seaboard assembles for complex salvage operation after bridge collapse kills 6, disrupts Port of Baltimore economy

Heavy machinery, including the largest crane on the Eastern Seaboard, is being assembled at the site of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore to begin removing the wreckage caused by the collision between the cargo ship, the Dali, and the bridge. The Dali, weighing 213 million pounds, veered off course on March 26, striking a pillar of the bridge and causing it to collapse, killing six construction workers and disrupting the economy at the Port of Baltimore, which carries over 750,000 vehicles annually and handles a record amount of cargo, making it the 20th biggest port in the US by total tons. Governor Wes Moore warned that the salvage operation would be complex due to the 1,000-ton crane needing to remove around 3,000-4,000 tons of steel bridge lying on top of the Dali. The U.S. Coast Guard prioritized clearing the channel, and a second 400-ton crane arrived on Saturday. The cleanup effort involved “the best minds in the world,” including members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Navy contractors mobilizing resources from across the US. The collapse has led to delays in consumer and industrial shipments, as the port is also a critical link for trucking and motor vehicles connecting Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York to Washington D.C. Clearing the channel will also enable authorities to resume searching for the remaining four bodies of those killed in the disaster. The National Transportation Safety Board detailed a preliminary timeline of events leading up to the cargo vessel Dali’s collision with the bridge. Experts predict that given the extensive search efforts and water temperatures, no one will be found alive. In the interim, the Maryland Department of Labor set up a hotline to assist those affected by the collapse regarding their unemployment insurance claims. The AP reported that the bridge’s reconstruction could take anywhere from 18 months to several years, at a minimum cost of $400 million.