The removal of the DALI ship, which has been grounded in the Fort McHenry channel of the Patapsco River since the Key Bridge collapse, has been postponed until early next week, according to testimony from Coast Guard Vice Admiral Peter Gautier before Congress.

Gautier provided an update on the cleanup and restoration efforts at the bridge collapse site. For now, the DALI remains in place as crews work to recover submerged and unstable wreckage left over from Monday’s controlled demolition that removed a section of the fallen bridge resting atop the vessel.

Before the DALI can be refloated and escorted to the Seagirt Marine Terminal in Baltimore, dive teams are conducting surveys to ensure any damaged containers still aboard the ship are properly secured or removed if necessary.

Progress was made this week in clearing debris, as cranes were utilized to lift away the unstable bridge section crushing the DALI after the controlled demolition on Monday.

While the DALI remains grounded, four temporary alternate channels in the river have been opened to allow maritime traffic to pass, including one channel 48 feet deep with a 350-foot horizontal clearance and 214-foot vertical clearance.

Once the DALI is finally moved to the marine terminal next week, the permanent channel will be allowed to fully reopen to vessel traffic, marking a significant milestone in recovery efforts following the dramatic bridge collapse.

Gautier’s testimony highlights the complex, methodical process required to carefully extract the grounded ship while ensuring the safety of crews and clearing debris before the Key Bridge area can be fully reopened.