The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has announced that it will be sending over 1,100 personnel to Baltimore, Md. in response to the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Patapsco River. This incident occurred early Tuesday morning, and the USACE is taking swift action to address the situation.
The Baltimore District of the corps has taken action by activating its Emergency Operations Center. This allows over 1,100 specialists in engineering, construction, contracting, and operations to offer assistance to local, state, and federal agencies. Their main objective is to clear the fallen bridge, as stated by the Army in the release.
The Dali, a cargo ship managed by Synergy Marine Group and owned by Grace Ocean Private Ltd, a Singaporean company, struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse within seconds.
Multiple cars and construction workers, who had been filling potholes, were sent plunging into the chilly waters below by the crumbling bridge. Sadly, six people are now missing and presumed dead.
The accident is expected to have significant economic consequences for Baltimore. The city heavily relies on the port for importing cars and food products, as well as exporting coal. According to data from the state of Maryland, approximately 850,000 car and truck imports pass through the port area. Additionally, an estimated 30,000 vehicles cross the bridge on a daily basis.
The port has temporarily halted all vessel traffic until further notice. However, trucks are still allowed to access the facility.
President Biden made a commitment on Tuesday to provide Baltimore with all the necessary federal resources in response to the ongoing emergency. He assured the city that they would work together to rebuild the port and recover from the situation.
The Army Corps of Engineers will use the removal vessel Reynolds to assist in clearing bridge debris from the river. The Reynolds is responsible for patrolling the Baltimore Harbor and Patapsco River waters, ensuring that any drift or debris that could pose a navigation hazard is promptly removed.
To assess the damage, the corps will employ the Catlett, a 61-foot survey vessel.
The Coast Guard, responsible for aiding in search-and-rescue operations immediately following the collapse, has taken charge of the accident investigation and pollution response.
