Friday, March 29, 2024
BALTIMORE – The Unified Command continues to coordinate response operations Friday to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
The Unified Command has dispatched the Chesapeake 1000 crane barge to the incident site. The barge arrived on scene at 6 a.m. this morning. Over the next 120 hours, the Unified Command plans to dispatch an additional seven cranes, ten tugs, and nine barges to the site.
Engineers with the Unified Command are conducting salvage assessments to determine the safest and most effective plan to begin salvage operations.
The Unified Command is continuing to address environmental concerns. An overflight this morning revealed no additional sheen in the waters around the M/V Dali.
Crews continue to assess and monitor for spilled oils and hazardous substances to prevent further discharge or release into the marine environment. There is 2,700 feet of sorbent boom deployed at the incident site, and 2,700 feet of hard containment boom with anchoring systems deployed around the vessel. Additionally, 16,000 feet of boom is on stand-by to deploy if additional prevention supplies are required. Response crews are assessing effectiveness of the containment boom and sorbent materials, and replacing them as necessary.
There is no change to the Maryland Department of the Environment consumption advisories for recreationally caught fish, crabs and shellfish.
The Unified Command continues to maintain a 2000-yard Safety Zone for the M/V Dali recovery efforts, a Temporary Flight Restriction with a radius of three nautical miles from the surface, up to and including 1500 feet above ground level. The safety zone is enforced for the protection of personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the potential hazards associated with salvage work.
I-695 remains closed on the Outer Loop at MD 173 (Exit 1) and on the Inner Loop at MD 157/Peninsula Expressway (Exit 43). Allow extra travel times using alternate routes on I-95, I-895 and other portions of I-695.
Vehicles transporting hazardous materials prohibited in tunnels should use the western section of I-695 around the tunnels. This includes vehicles carrying bottled propane gas in excess of 10 pounds per container (maximum of 10 containers), bulk gasoline, explosives, and significant amounts of radioactive materials.
The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command includes the:
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Maryland Department of the Environment
Maryland Transportation Authority
Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Marine
Maryland State Police
A website with incident response information can be found at the following URL:
The media is requested to call the Joint Information Center at 410-631-8939 for interview response inquiries and interviews.
The Unified Command’s operational priorities are ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, accountability of missing persons, safely restoring transportation infrastructure and commerce, protecting the environment, and supporting the investigation.
