BALTIMORE (AP) — After weeks of preparation, crews launched a controlled ramp Sunday evening to destroy the largest remaining span of Maryland's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed on impact from a giant container ship. There are plans to carry out demolition. March 26th.
The steel span was estimated to be 500 feet (152 meters) long and weighed up to 600 tons (544 tons) before landing on the ship's bow. dali I lost my power, bump into One of the bridge supports shortly after leaving Baltimore. The ship has been stuck among the wreckage ever since, and Baltimore's busy port has been closed to most maritime traffic.
Six road construction workers were killed in the collapse.of their last body It was recovered from underwater wreckage earlier this week. All the victims are latino immigrants A person who came to America in search of job opportunities. When the bridge was destroyed, they were working the night shift to fill in the holes.
A controlled demolition will allow Dali to be refloated and guided to the Port of Baltimore. Once the ship is removed, maritime traffic could begin to return to normal, providing relief to thousands of longshoremen, truck drivers and small business owners whose jobs have been affected by the closure. .
Dali's 21 crew members are evacuated to a designated location on the ship until the explosives detonate.
Crew spokesman William Marks said crews would be evacuated to “designated safe locations” during demolition. “Every precaution is being taken to ensure everyone's safety,” he said in an email.
Officials said demolition is the safest and most efficient way to remove steel under high levels of pressure and strain.
“It is dangerous for workers to be on or in close proximity to the bridge trusses for final cutting operations,” officials said in a news release Sunday.
In a video released this week, authorities said engineers were making precision cuts to control damage to the truss. They said the method allowed for “surgical precision” and that the steel structure would be “thrown off the Dali” as the explosives rolled it into the water.
Once dismantled, hydraulic grabbers lift the steel sections onto the barge.
“It's important to note that this controlled demolition is not like what you see in the movies,” he said in the video, noting that from a distance it would sound like fireworks or loud thunder and there would be plumes of smoke. ing.
Approximately 6,000 tonnes (5,443 tonnes) of steel and concrete have been removed from the collapse site so far. Authorities estimate the total amount of debris at 50,000 tonnes (45,359 tonnes), the equivalent of 3,800 dump trucks.
Officials had previously said they hoped to do so. remove dali By May 10, the port's 50-foot (15.2-meter) main waterway will be reopened by the end of May.
The Dali is now scheduled to refloat at high tide on Tuesday, officials announced Sunday. He said three or four tugboats would be used to guide the ship to a terminal near the Port of Baltimore. She will likely remain there for several weeks, and after temporary repairs are made, she will be transferred to the shipyard for more extensive repairs.
Dali's crew has not been allowed to leave the stranded ship since the accident. Officials said they were busy maintaining the ship and assisting investigators. Twenty of the crew members are Indian and one is Sri Lankan.
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FBI conduct a survey Due to the collapse of the bridge.
Danish shipping giant Maersk chartered the Dali for a planned trip from Baltimore to Sri Lanka, but the ship never went far. The crew reported losing power and losing control of the steering system. A few minutes later, the ship crashed into a bridge.
Officials said the safety board's investigation will focus on the ship's electrical system.
