BALSA 94

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

First large ship to leave Baltimore one month after bridge collapse

On April 25, 2024, at 3 p.m. UTC the 'Balsa 94' was the first large vessel to leave the port of Baltimore, en route to Saint John with an ETA as of April 29, after an involuntary 33-day stay due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Two hours after a new temporary channel was opened by the US Coast Guard, the ship sailed past the remains of the bridge. It had arrived in Baltimore on March 23, three days before the bridge collapsed, and had thus been in Baltimore for 33 days The ship was assisted out through the narrow temporary channel, which has a depth of 11.5 meters by two tugbs and at a speed of less than five knots. The ship was followed by i.a. the car transport ship 'Carmen' from Wallenius Wilhelmsen, which had been ready for departure before the collapse of the bridge. The shipping company has previously estimated that the involuntary stay would cost them 5-10 million. Dollar in lost operating earnings. The temporary channel is open for four days, during which the port will prioritize the approximately 12 larger ships that have been waiting to leave for a month. Three ships were lined up April 25 to be allowed to enter the port of Baltimore through the new temporary channel, while container barges continued to use another cleared passage with a depth of six meters. Reports with photos and video: https://www.maritimedanmark.dk/forste-storre-skibe-slap-ud-efter-33-dage-i-havnen https://apnews.com/article/key-bridge-collapse-channel-opened-ship-dali-e8694bd668589ad82e37b88b9ed84246 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/first-cargo-ship-passes-through-newly-opened-channel-in-baltimore-since-bridge-collapse/ar-AA1nEr3c