Container Ship M/V Dali Set to Be Removed 8 Weeks After Francis Scott Key Bridge Crash

The M/V Dali, the enormous container ship that collided with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, causing a catastrophic collapse and the deaths of six construction workers, is set to be moved from the Patapsco River to shore in a complex procedure beginning Monday.

The crash, which occurred in the early hours of March 26, resulted in a structural failure of the bridge and significant disruption to shipping across the East Coast. The M/V Dali has remained in the river for the past eight weeks.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced on Sunday that the ship would be removed "within days." However, it was unclear as of 5:30 a.m. whether the refloat operation had begun. A representative for Unified Command, which includes Maryland state departments, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Army, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The Unified Command stated that the ship would be prepared for refloating at 2 a.m. ET to coincide with high tide at 5:24 a.m. The operation's sequence is carefully planned to ensure control of the vessel throughout its refloat, transit, and berthing at a local marine terminal.

Preparations include examining the ship, releasing some anchors and mooring lines, and de-ballasting up to 1.25 million gallons of water that was pumped onto the ship to compensate for the weight removed by precision cutting on May 13. Once freed, up to five tugboats will escort the Dali 2.5 miles to a local port at a speed of around 1 mph.

Earlier this week, a survey vessel confirmed the route to be clear for the ship's transit. A preliminary National Transportation Safety Board report last week revealed that the nearly 1,000-foot-long Dali, sailing under a Singaporean flag, lost power twice in three minutes before the crash.

Although the Dali's 22 crew members were unharmed, they have been required to remain on board since the incident, including during a controlled explosion. U.S. regulations mandate that any ship must have a minimum staff on board at all times.

Government officials, investigators, and union staff have been on board to visit the crew, who have expressed "unfounded fear of personal criminal liability" and emotional distress, according to a statement from the Singapore Maritime Officers' Union.

The FBI has launched a criminal investigation into the crash. The disruption caused by the incident has significantly impacted supply chains across the East Coast, as Baltimore is a top 20 U.S. port.