NORFOLK, Va. — A barge departed the Port of Virginia for Baltimore Wednesday, a month after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse that halted maritime traffic.
According to the Port of Virginia, the barge belongs to Columbia Coastal, which will provide weekly service delivering imports to and exports from Baltimore.
The barge's departure comes after a fourth temporary channel in Baltimore opened, allowing ships to access and depart the Port of Baltimore once again. Coast Guard officials say the channel has a depth of 38 feet, the deepest yet of the four temporary alternate routes in and out of the port.
"We recognize the tireless work of the Key Bridge Response Unified Command to reopen a key waterway," Port of Virginia officials wrote in a Facebook post. "The Port of Virginia is here for continued support of this important lane and the Baltimore shipping community."
The first ship, the Balsa 94, passed through the channel Thursday morning.