BALTIMORE — The Dali cargo ship, now famously known for crashing into Baltimore's Key Bridge, causing its collapse, is on the move again.
According to court records, the Dali is scheduled to leave for China September 17.
The ship has been docked in Norfolk, Virginia undergoing repairs since late June, after having been grounded at the Port of Baltimore.
All eyes have been on the Dali since the deadly Key Bridge incident.
Courts are now involved, as severallawsuits and investigations into the crash remain ongoing.
Before setting sail for Asia, attorneys and investigators want to inspect the DALI again because its condition has been a crucial focus pointin helping to determine what caused the collision.
Inspections are tentatively set for sometime between September 5 and 14.
As for pending litigation, the U.S. District Court of Maryland has ordered all briefs to be filed by September 24, which is one week after the Dali's planned departure.
Dali owners and operators, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine PTE, have denied any fault or neglect.
Some involved crew members have been forced to stay in the U.S. while the case plays out, while others were allowed to return to their home country, provided they are available for future depositions.
Despite all of that needing to be decided, a new bridge still needs to be built.
Major progress has been made over the last couple of weeks in that regard.
The state awarded Kiewit Infrastructure Co. a $73 million contract to design a new bridge. Overall it's estimated a new bridge will cost $1.7 billion.
If things go according to plan, officials say a new bridge could be up by Fall 2028.
When it comes to footing the bill, President Joe Biden has vowed to have the federal government fully pay for it. Meanwhile, Maryland collected a $350 million dollar payout from Chubb - the company that insured the Key Bridge.
Although the project has already cleared two major environmental hurdles, receiving Categorical Exclusion classification and National Environmental Policy Act approval, the Maryland Transportation Authority is awaiting a Water Quality Certification and permits to begin construction.
A public information hearing on the permit process is being held on September 17 at the Community College of Baltimore County's Dundalk Community Theatre at 7200 Sollers Point Road.
