Rapid Recovery: Witt O’Brien’s | Ambipar Response's Strategic Response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapse

CHALLENGES

On March 26, 2024, the motor vessel M/V Dali experienced a power outage while departing the Port of Baltimore and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The impact caused a catastrophic collapse of the bridge, resulting in the tragic deaths of six Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) contract workers and the complete closure of the Port of Baltimore. The incident was classified by the U.S. Coast Guard as an Incident of National Significance, necessitating a large-scale coordinated response due to its severe impact on national infrastructure and commerce.

The allision led to approximately a mile-and-a-half of roadway collapsing into the channel, which blocked the Federal shipping channel and parts of the river. This blockage prevented any vessel traffic into or out of the Port of Baltimore, causing significant operational challenges and economic impacts. The port’s closure threatened the livelihoods of thousands of workers and had a ripple effect on commerce across the East Coast and the broader United States.

Our management team—as part of the Unified Command (UC) for the response—faced immense pressure to manage the clean-up, refloat the M/V Dali, and restore the port’s operations as quickly as possible. Additionally, specialized equipment required to handle the extreme weight of the collapsed bridge sections had to be sourced from across the United States.

SOLUTION

We quickly mobilized as part of a comprehensive Incident Management Team to represent the responsible party within the UC. The team coordinated with a broad range of Federal and state entities including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maryland Transportation Authority, Maryland Department of the Environment, and the Maryland State Police, to manage the incident efficiently and effectively.

1. Initial Response and Coordination:

• • Coordinated search and rescue operations on the first day, successfully transitioning to recovery efforts and ensuring the safety of the remaining workforce and response teams.
  • Established an Incident Command Post (ICP) on the second day following the incident.

2. Prioritization and Planning:

• • Established the primary response objectives as removing bridge debris, refloating the M/V Dali, and reopening the Federal channel.
  • Worked concurrently on these objectives with three different salvage companies, each focusing on specific tasks under the UC’s control—thereby ensuring a comprehensive and efficient approach to the complex situation.

3. Specialized Equipment and Strategies:

• • Utilized high-capacity cranes and specialized heavy-lift equipment to manage the extreme weight and complexity of the collapsed bridge sections.
  • Employed high-energy cutting techniques to safely dismantle the bridge sections leaning on the vessel, ensuring that the ship could be refloated without further damage.
  • Conducted continuous analysis and adjustments to salvage plans by incorporating feedback from engineers, the UC, and other stakeholders to ensure safety and efficiency at every step.

4. Stakeholder Communication and Media Management:

• • Managed stakeholder communications, including media inquiries and updates, to ensure the dissemination of accurate and timely information.
  • Provided regular briefings to the client, insurers, regulatory authorities, and other stakeholders, ensuring everyone was kept informed of the progress and plans.
  • Acted as the client’s press office, handling media inquiries and ensuring journalists received prompt and accurate responses.

The coordination efforts involved extensive collaboration with multiple Federal and State government agencies to manage and approve salvage plans, thereby ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the operations. Our team's role in facilitating these collaborations was crucial in maintaining a unified and effective response effort.

RESULT

Our effective management under the Incident Command System (ICS) facilitated seamless coordination among more than 1,587 response specialists, enabling a highly successful response. The UC—which included six agencies—led the response efforts among approximately 56 Federal, state, and local agencies. As part of the UC, our team played a pivotal role in the removal of around 50,000 tons of bridge wreckage from the Patapsco River, fully restoring the Federal Channel to its original width and depth.

At its peak, the response involved 500 specialists from around the world, operating a fleet of 18 barges, 22 tugboats, 13 floating cranes, 10 excavators, and four survey boats. Subject matter experts (SMEs) from across the U.S. provided essential technical knowledge to the UC, ensuring a comprehensive and informed approach to the complex salvage operation.

Other Significant UC Milestones:

• March 30: Removal of bridge wreckage commenced, marking the beginning of the debris-clearance process.
• April 2: The first of three Temporary Alternate Channels opened, allowing shallow-draft vessels to transit through the Port of Baltimore, partially restoring maritime traffic.
• April 7: Removal of containers from M/V Dali began, beginning the process of offloading cargo and preparing the vessel for refloating.
• April 25: The Limited Access Channel opened to a width of 300 feet and a depth of 35 feet, significantly increasing access for larger vessels.
• May 9: Recreational vessels were permitted to transit through the Key Bridge Response Safety Zone, restoring some normalcy to maritime activities in the area.
• May 13: Controlled demolition of Section 4 was completed, successfully removing a 10-million-pound segment of the Key Bridge that had pinned the M/V Dali.
• May 20: The M/V Dali was successfully refloated and transited to a safe mooring in Baltimore.

Our strategic approach and timely execution allowed the port to reopen within 60 days, significantly ahead of initial estimates. The ability to quickly restore operations set a benchmark for future large-scale incident responses and highlighted our team's capability to handle complex, high-stakes situations.

The successful reopening of the Port of Baltimore and the restoration of the shipping channel significantly mitigated the economic impact and provided critical relief to the local workforce and businesses dependent on the port’s operations. This response has been widely recognized as a model of effective incident management and inter-agency collaboration—demonstrating the importance of preparedness, expertise, and decisive action in emergency response scenarios.

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