The Chesapeake 1000, the largest crane on the East Coast, has arrived in Baltimore to aid in the recovery efforts following the collapse of the Key Bridge. The massive crane is tasked with lifting 1,000 tons of debris from the wreckage, but the bridge itself weighs between 3,000-4,000 tons, presenting a significant challenge for crews.
The removal of debris is expected to take weeks, further complicating the search for missing victims and delaying the reopening of the cargo channel. In addition to the Chesapeake 1000, seven floating cranes and numerous other vessels are set to arrive at the scene in the coming weeks to assist in the recovery efforts.
Recovery of the victims is a top priority, as four workers are still missing and believed to be trapped in the wreckage. The economic impact of the bridge collapse is also significant, affecting the flow of cargo in and out of the Port of Baltimore and impacting thousands of dock workers.
The cost of clearing the channel and rebuilding the bridge is estimated to be around $60 million, with federal funds being allocated for assistance. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the incident, interviewing witnesses and analyzing data recordings to determine the cause of the collision.
The container vessel involved in the crash, the Dali, is Singaporean-flagged and had 23 people on board, with 20 being Indian nationals who fortunately were uninjured. Stay tuned for more updates as the recovery efforts continue in Baltimore.
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