Page 29: of Marine News Magazine (August 2024)

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Feature

Salvage “We worked to satisfy our obligations,” Witte said, “but sire to work together is the most important lesson we take when faced with this national disaster most customers from incident to incident.” understood and supported our need to move to the Key Because of Herculean efforts of hundreds of unnamed

Bridge site.” Witte was insightful on this give-and-take: heroes, the Ft. McHenry channel reopened its 50-foot “One thing that I have always seen in over 45 years of ser- depth, 700-foot width on June 10, one day shy of 11 vice to the marine community in times of need, is that we weeks after the crash.

all somehow ? nd a way to put aside petty bickering and our normal ? nancial concerns and work together to ? x the

Event Timeline: A Summary problem. This is the United States I know, love and am • March 26: Dali strikes the 1.6-mile Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore, over the Patapsco River, honored to support in our time of need.” at about 1:30 a.m.

Finally, Witte was asked: what kept you up at night?

• March 26: Uni? ed Command is established. It includes – “Marine salvage has made me an insomniac,” he re- o The US Coast Guard marked. “I am typically up at night worrying about or plan- o The Army Corps of Engineers ning for something as it relates to Donjon Marine.” But he o Maryland Department of the Environment was con? dent in his team, that they had the right plan, the o Maryland Transportation Authority right equipment and support of the Uni? ed Command.

o Maryland State Police

Looking back, Witte said the work proceeded smoothly. o Synergy Marine (a private emergency “There are always hiccups and even occasional missteps,” response contractor) he commented, “but on this project, with the right people • March 30: Wreckage removal starts • April 1: The ? rst of two temporary channels is opened and an environment of cooperation and a common goal, • April 2: The second and deeper temporary channel opens these hiccups were minimal and nothing that impacted • May 2: Dali is re? oated overall performance and timing. Donjon was proud to be • June 10: USACE announces full restoration of the channel a part of the emergency response team. The attitude/de-

It takes a fleet to raise a bridge.

Donjon Marine www.marinelink.com MN 29|