The largest crane on the US East Coast arrives in Baltimore for cleanup work – 2024-03-30 05:25:13

The crane, which can lift up to 1,000 tons of weight, will be one of two that participate in the work of cleaning the canal of the remains of metal and concrete to which the bridge was reduced, indicated the governor of Maryland, Wes Moore, who assured that work is being done “at full speed” to reopen the canal and reactivate traffic.

Prior to the start of the removal, an evaluation of the debris is being carried out, which is considered “fundamental” before removing it from the water to determine the size in which the pieces of the bridge will have to be cut so that the cranes can lift them, the media highlights. local.

“When you have the opportunity to see those remains up close, you fully understand the enormity of the challenge,” said the governor on Thursday, who will receive a visit next Tuesday from President Joe Biden, who will visit the area.

Moore also indicated that as part of the work being carried out, more than 730 meters of barriers have been placed to contain any possible pollution leak from the ship that impacted the bridge.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 56 containers on the ship contain hazardous materials, mostly corrosive and flammable, as well as some ion batteries while 14 containers contain perfumes and soaps, among other items.

This Wednesday the bodies of two of the deceased were found, all of them Latin American construction workers. The efforts to recover the bodies of the other four are halted for now due to the presence of debris, but Moore assured that it is a priority.

Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott said Thursday that he remains hopeful of finding the bodies of the other four deceased who remain under the debris of the bridge.

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge stopped the passage of ships and caused the closure of the port, one of the main US ports in the Atlantic. The value of the goods that circulate through port facilities every day is between 100 and 200 million dollars.

Other ports, including New York-New Jersey, have stepped forward to prevent the food supply chain that depended on that infrastructure from being interrupted.