The allision of the 'Dali' with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was expected to have a limited but significant impact on the local port and shipping operations. The effect on the overall US economy was expected to be remaining relatively limited. About a dozen large ships have been trapped in Baltimore port along with a similar number of tugs and workboats. Another 30 vessels were signalling their destination as Baltimore, one of the smaller US container ports, ranking around no. 11, which handled about 265,000 TEUs in the fourth quarter of 2023. These can be redirected to other ports along the US east coast, although such a necessary move may lead to short-term congestion and delays in those ports. The port is important for the handling of specialised cargo and bulk handling, including motor vehicles and oil. In 2023 Baltimore handled approximately 850,000 motor vehicles, all types. Baltimore is particularly important for the handling of farm and construction machinery, automobiles, imported forest products, imported sugar, imported gypsum, and exported coal. No estimates have been given so far for the clearing of debris obstructing the channel and preventing access to the port. President Biden intimated on March 26 that federal funding would be available for the rebuilding of the bridge, but first it was necessary to clear the channel of all obstacles. Much of the debris can possibly be dragged away from the channel in relatively short time, allowing trapped ships to depart the port and others to enter. Meanwhile, enquiries into the cause of the ship’s failure to navigate safely have commenced. The accident site was being treated as a crime scene.
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TITARIO SEGON
The 'Titario Segon', 68 gt, suffered an engine failure on March 25 , 2024, in the L`Ametlla area, with three crew members on board. The ship requested a tow to port, and the CCS Barcelona of Salvamenot Marítimo mobilized the SAR vessel 'Salvamar Fomalhaut', which took the ship in tow and safely pulled it to L'Ametlla.
ABEILLE NORMANDIE
In the night of March 26 the CROSS Gris-Nez was informed that a migrant boat was in difficulty off the coast of Oye-Plage and deployed the 'Abeille Normandie' to assist. The crew of the emergency tug noticed that the boat had an engine failure and launcehd two semi-rigid boats which recovered 53 people. They were dropped off at the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where they were taken care of by shore based rescue teams and the border police.
CG-SEA-DOG
The USCG 'Sea Dog (WPB 87373)' suffered damage during the crew’s inbound transit from sea to the St. Marys River, on March 25, 204. The cutter safely moored in Fernandina Beach, Florida, with assistance from additional Coast Guard assets and a commercial towing vessel. There were no injuries to personnel, no damage to other vessels in the area, no impediments to the navigable waterway, and no reported environmental impacts as a result of the incident. The incident was under investigation.
PANORAMA
In the afternoon of March 26, 2024, the Karystos Port Authority was informed by the Master of the 'Panorama', which was sailing on its scheduled route from the port of Marmaris to the port of Rafina, that it had suffered a loss of the electrical power due to the breakage of the cooling belt of the second generator. The ship had on board 221 passengers with their vehicles and 18 crew members. The ship returned under its own power to the port of Marmaris, where it safely disembarked the passengers, who were forwarded to their destination by the ship-owning company. The Karystos Port Authority banned the ferry from sailing until the repair of the damage and the presentation of a certificate of class maintenance by the monitoring classification society.