Baltimore port operations return to normal after Dali ship removal
Port operations and bunkering activities in Baltimore have returned to normal after the cargo ship Dali was successfully removed on Monday.
PHOTO: M/V Dali is seen in transit, with the Port of Baltimore in the background. Port of Baltimore
The US Army Corps of Engineers noted that five tugboats and other support vessels removed the vessel under favorable environmental conditions.
The Dali had collided severely with the Francis Scott Key Bridge on 26 March, causing disruptions to transit in the area.
The collision occurred after the ship lost power, veered off course, and struck the bridge, causing approximately 4,000 tonnes of debris to enter the Patapsco River and trapping the vessel.
Following the collision, the ship remained at the scene, covered in scrap metal from the bridge, until a controlled demolition was carried out last week to clear some of the debris.
A preliminary report from the US' National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) ruled out the possibility of fuel contamination as a cause for the incident.
"On March 28, the owner took samples of the LSMGO that was being burned at the time of the accident. At NTSB direction, the owner transferred the samples to an independent laboratory. The test results did not identify any concerns related to the quality of the fuel," the NTSB report released last Tuesday stated.
US President Joe Biden acknowledged the progress made, stating, “Eight weeks since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Dali has been cleared from the channel, a mark of progress and a promise kept.”
Jonathan Daniels, the Director of the Baltimore port, mentioned that the channel is now 400 feet wide and 50 feet deep, with plans to widen it further to 700 feet within two weeks.
Regarding bunker fuel demand, it has not seen a significant increase yet, but traders anticipate more demand starting from June onwards.
By Debarati Bhattacharjee
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