The Dali cargo ship will be refloated at high tide two days after explosives are detonated to remove the truss of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge, according to Unified Command's current plan.
Called "precision cutting," the controlled demolition will use small charges to split the portion of the collapsed bridge on the ship's bow into smaller, more manageable sections.
"The operation requires careful handling of roadbed material, crushed containers, and bridge fragments currently resting on the vessel," said Key Bridge Response Unified Command officials said.
Officials said it's similar to the method used to demolish the Harry Nice Memorial Bridge last year in Charles County.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, leading the salvage effort, said it is the "safest and swiftest" way to remove the thousands of tons of wreckage pinning the massive ship.
Though it might be the safest method, residents in the vicinity of the explosion are asked to take precautions.
Officials urge maintaining a safe distance from the operation and "highly discourage" spectating. A 2,000-foot Safety Zone has been established, where hearing protection is required.
Most of the Safety Zone consists of the Patapsco River, but portion of Hawkins Point falls in its range. Unified Command said "focused efforts" will be made to prepare those in the area for the event.
That effort will include a mobile notification in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.
Unified Command said the exact time of the cutting depends on environmental and operational factors, but officials hope to refloat the Dali by the end of the week.
The removal of the steel structure of the bridge, called "section four," is another big step toward refloating the Dali to clear the Fort McHenry Channel and provide access to the Port of Baltimore, which has been limited since the disaster.
The Unified Command's priority is to reopen full access to the port, which it aims to do by the end of May.
"We remain focused on restoring the Marine Transportation System while ensuring the protection of the public and the environment," said Capt. David O'Connell, federal on-scene coordinator for the Key Bridge response, said in a statement. "By using precision cuts, we reduce risks to our personnel and can safely and efficiently continue clearing the channel for the Port of Baltimore."
Since the collapse, four temporary channels have opened to allow ships, including some commercial vessels.
The fourth and largest channel closed after five days as salvage operations continued, but an even deeper channel is expected to open as soon as the Dali is unstuck and removed from the channel.
The main 50-foot-deep channel is still set to reopen by the end of May. A giant hydraulic claw will make that possible by removing pieces of the bridge embedded in the Patapsco Riverbed.
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Source: CBS News, WBALTV.com
