Why danger remains for ill-fated ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse

Preventing the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore Harbor from shifting in the current while it supports thousands of tons of steel wreckage is a key goal for the Army Corps of Engineers, according to a senior U.S. official and a document obtained by USA TODAY.

The Dali brought down a huge span of the bridge over the Patapsco River last week, killing six construction workers and paralyzing shipping in one of the nation’s busiest ports after a still-unexplained power failure.

The 300-yard-long cargo ship will be stabilized with anchors and tug boats, the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, said Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Corps engineers will continue to analyze the massive steel truss structure that fell across the Dali and into the shipping channel. Crews began to cut up portions of the bridge on Saturday.rtions are under tension before cutting it into pieces. Divers have to navigate currents, limited visibility, cold water and lethally sharp debris.

More: Baltimore's Key Bridge is not the first: A look at other bridge collapse events in US history

The bottom of the channel must be completely cleared of debris because huge ships like the Dali clear the bottom by no more than two feet when they're fully loaded, Spellmon said.

The Corps has also been tasked with creating a smaller, shallower channel to handle barge traffic and allow some commercial traffic to move again.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Baltimore cargo ship, Dali, still in danger under tons of steel