The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, anticipates reopening a limited access channel, 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore by the month’s end.
This channel will facilitate one-way traffic for barge container service and select roll-on/roll-off vessels transporting automobiles and farm equipment.
Collaborating with local, state, and federal partners, USACE is actively clearing wreckage along the Fort McHenry Channel, aiming to restore full access by the end of May.
Lt Gen Scott A Spellmon emphasized safety as the primary concern amidst these ambitious timelines, acknowledging potential impacts from adverse weather conditions or changes in wreckage complexity.
The effort follows the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, caused by the 9,962-TEU Dali vessel collision, with ongoing efforts to remove containers critical for channel clearance and reopening.