The Port of Baltimore Reborn After the Accident, with $160 Million to Restore the Shipping Artery!

On June 12, 2024, Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, USA, announced at the Port of Baltimore that after more than two months of intense work, the main channels of the Port of Baltimore had fully resumed navigation. The restoration work cost $160 million and involved more than 2,000 people working day and night. Finally, the 50,000 - ton debris remaining after the freighter bridge - collision accident in March was cleared. Officials expect that the ports throughput will return to normal by mid - July this year.

On March 26 this year, the Singapore - flagged freighter Dali hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the Port of Baltimore, causing the bridge to collapse. Eight construction workers on the bridge fell into the Patapsco River, six of whom were missing and presumed dead. The bridge - collision accident caused the bridge debris to fall into the river, blocking the main waterway of the Port of Baltimore and halting the shipping routes.

To resume port operations as soon as possible, US federal, state and local agencies jointly participated in the cleanup. The US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Coast Guard were responsible for the salvage and cleanup work, with a total cost of $160 million. During the cleanup, four temporary waterways were opened, and the first trapped freighter left the port on April 26. By May 20, the freighter Dali that hit the bridge was finally removed from the accident site and returned to the port for further repairs.

Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland, said at a news conference: For the past 11 weeks, Ive been waiting every day to say this: The Fort McHenry Channel in Maryland has been cleared, and the Port of Baltimore is reopened for operation. He pointed out that the Fort McHenry Federal Channel is 213 meters wide and 15 meters deep, and two - way shipping has been restored, and additional safety requirements have been lifted. At the scene, a passing ship sounded its horn, symbolizing the reopening of the port.

The Port of Baltimore is an important port on the east coast of the United States, loading more cars and agricultural equipment than any other port. The bridge - collision accident caused an economic loss of about $1.2 billion in Baltimore and its surrounding areas. According to the Associated Press, US President Joe Biden praised the full cooperation of governments at all levels in a statement and promised that the federal government would bear all the costs of bridge reconstruction. The bridge reconstruction is expected to cost as much as $1.9 billion and is hoped to be completed in 2028.

The full recovery of the Port of Baltimore is of great significance to the US supply chain. US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said that the US Department of Transportation played an important role in this cooperation to mitigate the impact of the blocked shipping routes on the supply chain. Officials expect that shipping companies that avoided the Port of Baltimore during the shipping route standstill will return as the route has returned to its original width and depth.

It is reported that the throughput of the Port of Baltimore is expected to return to normal levels by mid-July. During the recovery period, the ports temporary shipping lanes helped relieve some of the congestion and ensured the smooth transportation of some goods. The reopening of the Port of Baltimore not only helps to boost the regional economic vitality but also guarantees the normal operation of the global shipping network.

The US National Transportation Safety Board publicly released the preliminary investigation report of the bridge - hitting accident on May 14. The investigation results showed that the cargo ship Dali had multiple power outages before hitting the bridge. Investigators tested the fuel used by the肇事货轮 and found no quality problems. Before and after the accident, the crew members were tested for drugs and alcohol several times, and no problems were found. It may take a year or more to complete the entire investigation.

This accident highlights the importance of strengthening shipping safety management. After resuming operations, the Port of Baltimore will further enhance safety measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again. Governments at all levels and relevant agencies will work closely together to ensure the smoothness of shipping lanes and port safety, providing strong support for the stable development of the global shipping industry.

The full resumption of operations at the Port of Baltimore marks the return to normal of this important shipping center on the US East Coast. Although the cleanup work was time - consuming and costly, with the joint efforts of governments at all levels and relevant agencies, port operations gradually returned to normal. In the future, the Port of Baltimore will continue to play its important role as a logistics hub, contributing to regional economic development and the stability of the global supply chain.