Larger ships can now access the port of Baltimore. The container vessel Dali has been successfully refloated and removed from the Patapsco River and access channels opened to larger commercial vessels.
As of May 21, the Fort McHenry Limited Access Channel had a draught of 50 ft (15.24 m), a 400 ft (121.9 m) horizontal clearance, and a vertical clearance on 214 ft (65.2 m).
According to the US Coast Guard, deep draught vessels still require a Maryland State pilot and two escort tugs. The Maryland pilots will impose a 3 ft (0.91 m) under keel clearance (UKC). For ships greater than 1,000 ft (304.8 m) in length and over 125 ft (38.1 m) in beam, transits will be limited to winds being less than 15 knots; all other vessel transits will be limited to winds being less than 20 knots.
Deep draught traffic has priority use of this channel. Tug and barge traffic should make maximum use of the three Temporary Alternate Channels. The safety zone identified for all navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 2,000-yard (1,829-m) radius of the Francis Scott Key Bridge remains in effect.
