News Alert
All
May 17, 2024
Notices
Please note below received from our Baltimore Sub Agent, Capes Shipping:
Please see below updates as of 0800 hrs May 17th, 2024:
- Unified Command officials continue to evaluate the M/V Dali Thursday in preparation for refloating the vessel and clearing the federal channel. Unified Command officials have evaluated sonar and lidar imagery but are awaiting results from a dive survey before proceeding with plans to refloat and move the M/V Dali to Seagirt Marine Terminal in the Port of Baltimore. This diver inspection is a necessary and vital step in the complicated process of reopening the Fort McHenry Federal Channel in a manner that mitigates risk to the vessel once it’s carefully refloated and moved from its current position. During the complex maritime operation of refloating the M/V Dali, Unified Command will continue removing wreckage in the central part of the Fort McHenry Federal Channel. More than 365 vessels have transited the four Port of Baltimore temporary alternate channels, the first of which was opened six days after the March 26 bridge collapse. These transits for commercial and recreational vessels will continue during the ongoing process to refloat the M/V Dali and salvage operation to clear the federal channel. Nearly 50% of the 700-foot-wide Fort McHenry Federal Channel had already been cleared to an operational depth of 48 feet before the controlled demolition. The federal channel is expected to be fully capable of supporting all commercial vessels in and out of the Port of Baltimore to a minimum operational depth of 50 feet in the weeks ahead.
- The Captain of the Port (COTP) will reopen the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel for commercial vessel traffic daily from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14th. This channel will have a controlling depth of 48 feet, 350-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 214 feet due to the adjacent BG&E powerlines. The available depth and width may increase based on future survey analysis as salvage operations continue. Vessel transits will remain at the discretion of the COTP, based on the prevailing weather conditions and salvage operations. Deep draft vessels utilizing this channel will require a Maryland State Pilot and two escort tugs. The Maryland Pilots will impose a 3 foot under keel clearance (UKC) requirement for all vessels and limit transits to winds being less than 15 knots Weather Forecast for 39.22N 76.54W. The pilots will not impose any beam restrictions for RO-ROs, Con-ROs, and cruise ships; however, all other transits will be limited to vessels with a beam of 106 feet or less (e.g. container ships, freight ships, tankers, and bulk carriers). Due to ongoing salvage operations in the area, all transits must be at the slowest safe speed but not to exceed 5 knots while the M/V DALI is in place and less than 10 knots following the M/V DALI’s refloat.
- Demolition to remove the piece of bridge from the bow of the Dali was successfully completed on May 13th.
- USACE engineers are aiming to reopen the permanent, 700-foot-wide by 50-foot-deep federal navigation channel by the end of May, AGW.
- The Captain of the Port (COTP) has established two temporary alternate channels for commercially essential vessels: the Sollers Point Temporary Alternate Channel is located on the northeast side of the main ship channel and the Hawkins Point Temporary Alternate Channel is located on the southwest side of the main ship channel. Both are in the vicinity of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. This action was part of a phased approach to opening the main federal channel. These temporary channels are marked with government lighted aids to navigation and will be limited to transit at the discretion of the COTP and during daylight hours only.
- Due to updated surveys and waterway user feedback, these channels have had aids repositioned to facilitate transits through best water. The updated approximate locations of aids to navigation can be found in Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and in the near future found in the USCG Light List/Local Notice to Mariners.
- The Sollers Point Temporary Channel has a controlling depth of 11 feet, a 264-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 95 feet.
- The Hawkins Point Temporary Channel has a controlling depth of 14 feet, a 280-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 124 feet.
- The Fort Carroll Temporary Channel has a controlling depth of 20 feet, a 300-foot horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance of 135 feet.
- The Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel will have a controlling depth of 48 feet, a 350-foot horizontal clearance, and vertical clearance of 214 feet
- Local Pilots have advised that vessels currently anchored at Annapolis are not movement restricted and are able to sail, provided that USCG and USCBP formalities are completed with each respective agency.
- Local Pilots have advised that Tradepoint Atlantic Terminal is currently not movement restricted. The channel to TPA berth(s) is outside of the USCG Safety Zone presently in effect, subject to change.
We will pass on information concerning resumption of vessel movements as soon as it’s provided to us by the U.S. Coast Guard, Maryland Pilots and port authorities.
In the meantime, please find the below current Sector Maryland NCR port condition update:
Sector Maryland NCR: Port Condition: Closed
Effective immediately a safety zone is established for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2000-yard radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The 948-foot Singapore-flagged vessel DALI struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024.
Please also reference the below website with up-to-date information regarding the response efforts of the Key Bridge Incident:
As advised, the timeline for resuming regular port operations uncertain and determined basis the information available by local authorities, and we expect this incident will affect port traffic for some time. Therefore, prospective berthing for future vessels is very unclear.
Our team is closely monitoring this situation and are actively communicating with local authorities and port officials to ensure we are as updated as possible.
We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions concerning the situation and we will assist as best as possible.
