Baltimore Key Bridge collapse: Temporary channel opens for boats working on bridge response
The cargo ship struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday.
A cargo ship crashed into Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, causing a near-total collapse of the span and halting vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore.
Six construction workers are believed to have fallen from the collapsing bridge into the frigid waters of the Patapsco River below. The bodies of two of the victims have been recovered so far, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.
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What to know about the collapse
The container ship Dali struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, partially collapsing the bridge, officials in Maryland said.
A local pilot was at the helm of the ship at the time, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Paul Wiedefeld said.
The crash appeared to be accidental, not intentional, officials said.
Two construction workers were rescued and six went missing in the immediate aftermath of the collapse, officials said. The bodies of two of the victims were recovered from the water on Wednesday amid ongoing search and recovery efforts, while four remain missing and are presumed dead, officials said.
3 crane barges from US Navy arrive in Baltimore, 4th coming next week
Three cranes from the U.S. Navy have arrived in Baltimore to remove submerged portions of the bridge, and a fourth crane is set to arrive next week, the Navy said.
The Chesapeake has a 1,000-ton lift capacity, the Ferrell has a 200-ton lift capacity and the Oyster Bay has a 150-ton lift capacity, the Navy said.
"Work will focus on disassembling and removing the bridge section by section. The disassembled pieces will be lifted onto barges, which will then be transported away," the Navy said in a statement. "An additional 12 crane and support vessels to include tugs, survey, dive and crew boats, are in the mobilization process and will arrive to Baltimore in the coming days."
Freight nearly size of Eiffel Tower, shipping containers 'ripped in half as if they were papier-maché'
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Friday outlined several goals in the aftermath of the bridge collapse, describing the scope of the disaster as a freight nearly the size of the Eiffel Tower "with the Key Bridge resting on top of it," and shipping containers "ripped in half as if they were papier-maché."
Moore told reporters the Unified Command continues to focus on recovery efforts to help bring "closure" to victims’ families.
He said as soon as conditions in the water are safe enough, divers will go back in the water to look for the four victims who are still missing.
Another priority is clearing the blocked channel, he said, stressing that the Port of Baltimore must reopen for the "health" of the Maryland economy and U.S. economy.
Moore also promised to rebuild the bridge, and to take care of everyone impacted by the crisis, including the families, workers, businesses and first responders.
Biden to visit Baltimore next week
President Joe Biden plans to visit Baltimore next week with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, he told reporters on Friday.
The Biden administration approved $60 million in emergency relief funds for rebuilding the bridge hours after receiving the request from the state of Maryland, the White House said Thursday.
"The federal emergency funds we're releasing today will help Maryland begin urgent work, to be followed by further resources as recovery and rebuilding efforts progress," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. "President Biden has been clear: the federal government will do everything it takes to help rebuild the bridge and get the Port of Baltimore back open."
Heavy duty crane arrives at bridge
The Chesapeake 1000 crane -- capable of lifting roughly 2.2 million pounds at a time -- arrived at the bridge at 11 p.m. Thursday, according to the bridge response Unified Command.
The piece of steel on the bow of the ship weighs roughly 9 million pounds.
Engineers will need to figure out exactly how and where to cut the steel to ensure no further danger will be posed to construction crews or the ship, the Unified Command said. Once the engineers determine where and how to cut the steel, they will begin to remove it from the ship in multiple pieces, the Unified Command said.
The Unified Command is made up of agencies including the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Maryland State Police.
-ABC News’ Sam Sweeney