Congratulations to all involved.
Great job!
By Mike Schuler
In a significant development for commercial shipping (click here) in the Port of Baltimore, the Captain of the Port (COTP) has announced that the reopening of the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel following the successful refloating and removal of the M/V Dali.
The channel, now available 24/7, now has a depth of 50 feet, a 400-foot horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance of 214 feet, which is enough to accommodate deep draft vessels with ease.
However, vessels will need a Maryland State Pilot and two escort tugs. The Maryland Pilots have also mandated a 3 ft under keel clearance (UKC) requirement. Further, containerships exceeding 1,000 ft in length and over 125 ft in beam will only be permitted to transit when winds are under 15 knots. Other vessels are allowed transit when winds are under 20 knots.
Deep draft traffic is being prioritized for this channel. Tug and barge traffic are encouraged to utilize the three Temporary Alternate Channels. Non-deep draft commercial vessels planning to use the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel are advised to coordinate with the Maryland Pilots.
The three smaller Temporary Alternate Channels, namely the Fort Carroll, Hawkins Point, and Sollers Point channels, are also open 24-hours daily, with varying depths and clearances to accommodate non-deep draft commercial and recreational vessels.
In a press conference Tuesday, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore praised crews for “achieving in matter of weeks what many thought would take months.”...
