Page 20 - Port of Baltimore - Issue 3 - 2024

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Patella himself and Vice Chair Dave Chenowith regularly attended Unified Command briefings and facilitated the sharing of information with BPA members.
Reopening the Channel
On May 17, the BPA hosted Pinchasin, O’Connell and Daniels at a general membership meeting. The meeting served to inform the Port community about the Unified Command’s progress — including the fact that the Dali would be moved away from the crash site and to Seagirt Marine Terminal within days, allowing for the reopening of a 50-foot- deep channel that would once more let the world’s largest cargo vessels call on the Port of Baltimore.
“There was just a tremendous amount of teamwork at the Unified Command at all levels,” O’Connell told attendees. “And that’s because of the coordination and interaction we have within the Port itself. While this is a big Port, it’s a small, tight- knit community that reaches out and coop- erates. I certainly appreciate that and feel blessed to operate in that environment.”
In his own speech, Daniels noted that the Unified Command’s quick work had outstripped all expectations. “All my counterparts thought we would be rolling again in six to eight months — maybe a year,” he said. “Here we are, less than two months later.”
What Remains to Be Done
By mid-May, many of the Unified Command’s operational functions had been disestablished and its members had moved back to their own offices, clearing the Cruise Maryland Terminal for the resumption of cruising on May 25.
As plans are made for a replacement bridge, the Corps of Engineers expects to be part of the conversation, Pinchasin said. “We’ll be part of that as a Port stakeholder and we’ll also work to deconflict our dredging operations while construction is going on.”
And while the winding down of Unified Command operations is good news, Pinchasin added that there was a melancholy aspect to saying goodbye. “It felt like a family,” she said. “While our collaboration continues, you’re sad to no longer see this wonderful team daily.”
Daniels also praised the quality of the Unified Command’s work. “I can’t say enough for their professionalism and their
[18] The Port of Baltimore ■ ISSUE 3 / 2024