Baltimore Bridge Collapse Handling Team Opens Access For Small Ships Passing, Tankers Still Can't

Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, collapsed as a result of being hit by a cargo ship. (Wikimedia Commons-David Adams)

JAKARTA - The team for handling the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, United States (US) opened access for small boats to cross other parts of the main route that was hit by Singapore's cargo tanker.

The collapsed bridge can be accessed after a 3.3 meter long line with a depth of 4.3 meters was cleared by a handling team consisting of the US Coast Guard, the US Army Engineer Corps, and the state of Maryland on Monday, April 1 local time.

Quoting Reuters, Wednesday, April 3, the route allows SAR ships or barges to pass.

Meanwhile, the main route where the usual Tangker ship and commercial cargo have crossed under the bridge is still covered by debris.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore at a press conference said the main route could be crossed if the bridge debris to a depth of 15 meters had been cleared.

The state of Maryland said Baltimore Port was the first port in the US to handle cargo ships containing light cars, trucks, agricultural and construction engines, imported sugar, and imported gypsum.

Access to and from Baltimore Port has now stalled due to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsing when a cargo ship hit on Tuesday, March 26 in the early hours of local time. The accident claimed the lives of six people.