Trapped ships finally able to leave Baltimore

Four ships trapped in Baltimore Harbour since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed last month have cleared the wreckage and are out in the Atlantic, following the opening of a deeper channel. A fifth vessel is expected to depart later today.

The Balsa 94, a general cargo ship, was first to leave yesterday followed by another general cargo ship, Saimaagracht, then the Carmen car carrier (pictured, left), and finally the Phatra Naree, a 35,882 dwt bulk carrier (pictured, above) owned by Thailand’s Precious Shipping.

Ships are entering the harbour as well. American Sugar Refining said a shipment of raw sugar from Florida arrived at its Baltimore refinery earlier this week.

The new 12 m deep channel opened this week but will shut again on Monday as operations get underway to remove the Dali, the ship that smashed into the bridge a month ago killing six road maintenance workers and bringing much of the port to a standstill.

Singaporean shipowner Grace Ocean and shipmanager Synergy Group face trial in Baltimore after lawyers for the city filed a case this week, claiming that their ship had left port with “unseaworthy” conditions.

The port’s main channel, with a 15m depth, is set to reopen next month after the ship has been removed. 

Carried below is a timelapse video of the departure of the Phatra Naree.