Francis Scott Key Bridge - Class I Impact

It'll be worth it to do the recalls at CSX and NS (and a short line there), because what they'll going to be doing is dumping all the ballast out of the MV Dali, inspecting it again, pulling it free, dragging it back to the Port of Baltimore, bracing it, and getting all the cargo off of it. Which means it's gotta be hauled out to other ports or back to the origin.

Once back in port they'll be yanking the rest of the bridge out of the water and getting that cleaned up.

Still, gotta love a good controlled demolition.

I wouldn't assume the Dali cargo will be leaving Baltimore immediately. If Maersk can get another ship in there, they'll want to carry it out themselves.

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STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Mon May 13, 2024 7:12 pm It'll be worth it to do the recalls at CSX and NS (and a short line there), because what they'll going to be doing is dumping all the ballast out of the MV Dali,

Mr. Wolf, the ballast is water so it will be pump it out.

But obviously, with that massive gash in the starboard prow, I don't think that vessel can be considered seaworthy by any measure. Further, in all likelihood, if it hasn't occurred already, the Sherrif will be posting a sign or two on any entrance to the bridge a notice the vessel is impounded. It's service life is about two thirds complete, and it's a dinghy when compared with the vessels that the major maritime concerns are now sailing. I do not give it much chance of sailing the high seas again.

But once again, I'm not a lawyer - especially of the Admiralty varietal.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2024 6:32 am Mr. Wolf, the ballast is water so it will be pump it out.

But obviously, with that massive gash in the starboard prow, I don't think that vessel can be considered seaworthy by any measure. Further, in all likelihood, if it hasn't occurred already, the Sherrif will be posting a sign or two on any entrance to the bridge a notice the vessel is impounded. It's service life is about two thirds complete, and it's a dinghy when compared with the vessels that the major maritime concerns are now sailing. I do not give it much chance of sailing the high seas again.

But once again, I'm not a lawyer - especially of the Admiralty varietal.

Oh it's definitely getting scrapped at the end of it all and turned into razor blades.

NTSB came out with the preliminary report. It's very preliminary. They think it's very electrical in nature but they're still digging into the whole setup. So... probably in a year or so we'll find out for sure.

No mention of rail, but still a mostly interesting 15 minutes of video - including a kayaker who wanted an "up close and personal" view of the salvage:

https://youtu.be/3a8iyDhCWpw?feature=shared

Apparently, the controlled demolition went "fairly well", but not quite as planned.

"Not sure" if this material belongs here, but here goes:

Politico

Fair Use:

The collapse is causing a monthslong slow down in coal exports, leaving the industry scrambling to figure out how to move the fossil fuel as stockpiles grow.

In the small industrial town of Baltimore’s Curtis Bay the slowdown exacerbates an existing air quality issue: Inhaling coal dust from an open-air coal pile that freight rail giant CSX has maintained there for over 140 years.

David Jones, a resident of Curtis Bay, alleges that CSX’s coal pile has polluted the air and made it hard to breathe.

So it's Chessie's fault she cannot move coal through the Port?

Maybe someone will point out to the complainant that CSX is a common carrier required by law to carry whatever is offered, subject to certain exceptions, none of which apply to coal.

As to Mr. Norman''s question, there are people who believe that everything that happens has to be somebody's fault.

It may be CSX's fault if the coal is not washed down while stored at the port if CSX is offering that storage as part of its services (I don't know the rules for handling coal, I do understand that coal piles have to be controlled, not for dust, but to prevent unwanted combustion, and I do know that at least BNSF and CP spray their coal trains en route to prevent coal dust). CSX does have the option of declaring it can't provide services if (for example) the destination can't handle the load, and CSX does not have the capacity (railcars or track space) to hold the load once accepted.

That's the thing. CSX may be stuck with coal that was in transit but it *can* contact NS to reroute "future" (April/May/etc) coal shipments to Sparrows Point's Tradepoint Atlantic. NS operates the facility there. CSX will take a soaking but it's better than having it stockpile up and needing the Dali moved sooner than later...

...which I hear is being prepped for the move now for final checks and movement early Monday morning.

There are reports from various outlets that the m/v Dali was refloated at the 5:24A (ET) high tide today and is presently being moved some 2.5 (land) miles to a berth at Sea Girt.

Hopefully, both Chessie and Topper have "advertised" the jobs needed to handle not only the containers from the Dali, but also that there are vessels presently sailing towards the Port of Baltimore anticipating that the May 31 date of a 50' MLW deep and a 300' wide channel will be open.

Can't be sure for how long this video will be available, or for how long it will survive here before it's killed, but m/v/ Dali has been berthed:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/ba ... ngNewsSerp

Hip, hip for Moran Towing.

Yep, the MV Dali is back at the Port of Baltimore, and they need to unload it.

Welp, as a French spy once said, "The moment has passed. Back to work!"

Now the messy work starts..... All that concrete and metal buried in the mud has to go before the 50' channel can be opened up. They'd be smart to remove the damaged freestanding piers as well since they have the tools there for the cleanup.

So for future plans:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va ... idge-port/

In summary for those hitting the paywall:

• Volatile cargo (like soy beans that have spoiled and are rotting now) is being unloaded and disposed of.
• Temporary repairs to get it down to Norfolk, VA are being made in Baltimore.
• The remaining is needed so the Dali clears the Bay Bridge, and boy is that going to be escorted.
• Once in Norfolk, it's getting fully unloaded and moved to Portsmouth dry docks for repairs.

Regarding the Post report Mr. Wolf located and immediately noted, I am surprised that it it's reported the vessel will move loaded to the Port of Norfolk (to fit under the 50's vintage Bay Bridge when a 23K GRT vessel was a "big boat" - and wow, if you're Gephyrophobic like me, that's one to think twice about before driving over) but immediately thereafter being sent for repairs with the apparent intent to have it sailing the High Seas again.

Considering that this incident will result in more suits than Hart, Schaffner, and Marx has on the racks, I would have thought the vessel would be impounded for both evidence and surety.

A final thought; when the new bridge is complete 'long about 2030, I'll bet any vessel the size of m/v Dali will require a tug escort until it is under and South of the bridge. Michael Moran's descendants will "do OK".