Baltimore - Engineers are currently working on rigging explosives to refloat the Dali, a cargo ship that has been stuck in the Patapsco River since March after crashing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The controlled demolition, politely referred to as "precision cutting," aims to use small charges to split the collapsed bridge section on the ship's bow into smaller, more manageable pieces.

According to officials, the operation requires careful handling of roadbed material, crushed containers, and bridge fragments that are currently resting on the vessel. This method is similar to the one employed last year for the demolition of the Harry Nice Memorial Bridge in Charles County.

Leading the salvage effort is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who state that this approach is the safest and quickest way to remove the thousands of tons of wreckage that are pinning the large ship. However, residents near the explosion site are being urged to take precautions and maintain a safe distance from the operation. Spectating is "highly discouraged" and a 2,000-foot Safety Zone has been established, where hearing protection is required. The Safety Zone mainly consists of the Patapsco River, with a portion of Hawkins Point falling within its range.

Unified Command, responsible for overseeing the operation, states that focused efforts will be made to prepare the local community for the event. An animation has been released, which provides details on how the demolition might appear. The explosions are expected to resemble multiple puffs of smoke, accompanied by sounds similar to fireworks.

The exact timing of the cutting depends on various environmental and operational factors, but officials hope to refloat the Dali by the end of the week. The removal of "section four," which is the steel structure of the bridge, is a significant step toward refloating the ship, as it will clear the Fort McHenry Channel and restore access to the Port of Baltimore, which has been restricted since the accident.

Unified Command's top priority is to fully reopen access to the port, a goal they aim to achieve by the end of May. Captain David O'Connell, Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the Key Bridge response, emphasized the focus on restoring the Marine Transportation System while prioritizing public and environmental safety. The collapse caused the opening of four temporary channels to allow ship traffic, including some commercial vessels. One of the main channels, the fourth and largest, had to be closed temporarily as salvage operations continued. However, it is expected that an even deeper channel will open once the Dali is unstuck and removed from the area. The main 50-foot-deep channel is still scheduled to reopen by the end of May, thanks to the use of a giant hydraulic claw that will remove bridge debris embedded in the Patapsco River bed.

The tragic incident that occurred on March 26 resulted in the Key Bridge collapse and the unfortunate loss of eight lives. On Tuesday, the body of the sixth and final victim was recovered. The victims hailed from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. Two bodies were initially found the day after the collapse, with the remaining victims discovered during subsequent weeks as recovery teams salvaged the wreckage.

The ongoing salvage efforts, with the controlled demolition being implemented, seek to not only refloat the Dali but also restore the flow of marine traffic through the Fort McHenry Channel, ultimately ensuring the full operation of the Port of Baltimore.