Carnival Cruise Line has announced that the Carnival Pride will resume its sailings from the Port of Baltimore on May 26, 2024. The ship will return to its year-round homeport schedule after a temporary change in departure port following the collapse of the Key Bridge on March 26.
Four weeks after a cargo ship crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse, the Port of Baltimore has reopened with a new deep-water channel. The Balsa 94 is the first cargo ship to navigate the new 35-foot channel. Two workers who were thrown into the water survived, and the bodies of four victims have been recovered. Two more workers are still missing and presumed dead. The collapse brought maritime traffic to a halt, but crews are still working through the massive cleanup process. The new temporary channel will remain open until Monday or Tuesday of next week.
Following the closure of the Port of Baltimore due to a bridge collapse, the Army Corps of Engineers has opened a 35-meter-deep channel, allowing most ships to enter and exit the port. This puts the salvage effort a week ahead of schedule, with five of the seven cargo ships trapped in the port now able to exit. The main channel, with a controlling depth of 50 feet, is set to reopen next month after the ship that struck the bridge has been removed, restoring marine traffic to normal.
The cargo ship Dali, which collided with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26th, was deemed “unseaworthy” when it departed the Port of Baltimore, according to a recent court filing submitted by the city. The filing alleges that the ship’s parent company, Grace Ocean Private Ltd. (GOPL), should be held liable for the bridge’s destruction, contrary to GOPL’s efforts to limit its financial responsibilities.
Baltimore officials are seeking to hold the owner and manager of the container ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, resulting in a deadly collapse. The city claims negligence on the part of the companies, alleging they failed to ensure the vessel was fit for its voyage and properly staffed. A federal court will ultimately decide the extent of liability, which could lead to one of the most expensive maritime disasters in history.
The City of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit against the owner and manager of the cargo ship that destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March, alleging negligence and seeking full liability for the deadly collapse. The lawsuit accuses the companies of failing to ensure the ship was fit for its voyage and properly manned, among other issues. The companies have declined to comment on the pending litigation.
