Salvage crews within the Key Bridge Unified Command are meticulously preparing for the complex task of removing the large piece of bridge that is currently resting on top of the M/V Dali. This delicate operation requires a thorough analysis and consideration of numerous hazards and obstacles resulting from the bridge’s impact.

Among the critical factors that crews must address are crushed containers, hull damage, and potential weight shifts during the bridge removal and refloating operation of the ship. Specialized equipment has been deployed to closely monitor the positioning and movement of the M/V Dali and the bridge wreckage in contact with it.

Rob Ruthledge, a contractor working for the Key Bridge Unified Command, explained the sophisticated monitoring system in place: “We’ve got a total of six inclinometers that measure tilt on key locations of the span and key locations of the ship, so we can watch how it’s pitching and rolling with tide and wind. We have a sensor measuring the relative position of the span on the ship, so we can see if, for some reason, it starts to slip. We also have what are called string gauges, which can measure, in real-time, the stress while they are performing operations.”

Additionally, crews have been working to remove portions of bridge span 17 that are in contact with the opposite side of the M/V Dali.

The Unified Command continues to maintain a 2000-yard maritime Safety Zone around the incident site, and a two-nautical-mile Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) extends from the center of the bridge, reaching up to 1500 feet above ground level. These measures are in place to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment, with strict enforcement against unauthorized entry and a zero-tolerance policy regarding any UAS/drone use within the designated “No Drone Zone.”

The Key Bridge Response 2024 Unified Command comprises the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland State Police, and Witt O’Brien’s representing Synergy Marine.