Salvage crews within the Key Bridge Unified Command continue to prepare for the task of removing the large pieces of bridge lying on top of the Dali, the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge over a month ago.
Prior to removing the bridge piece, salvage teams much analyze and factor in numerous hazards and obstacles resulting from the bridge’s impact.
Crushed containers, hull damage, and weight shifts are among the critical considerations crews must address during the bridge removal and refloating operations of the ship.
Specialized equipment has been employed to closely monitor the positioning and movement of the Dali and the bridge wreckage in contact with it.
Last week, the Port of Baltimore said the vessel is expected to be removed by May 10. In a news release Monday, the Key Bridge Unified Command did not mention that deadline or when removal of pieces of bridge on top of the Dali will begin.
“We’ve got a total of six of, what we call, inclinometers that measure tilt on key locations of the span and key locations of the ship so we can watch how it’s pitching and rolling with tide and wind,” Rob Ruthledge, a contractor working for the Key Bridge Unified Command, said in a news release. “We have a sensor measuring the relative position of the span on the ship so we can see if for some reason it starts to slip. We also have what are called string gauges which can measure in real-time the stress, while they are performing operations.”
Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath downplayed the May 10 deadline last week, citing a host of variables that could affect progress, including the weather. Rain and thunderstorms are expected all week around Baltimore.
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Source: WBFF Baltimore, Baltimore Sun
