TTB 2026: Inside the Key Bridge salvage operation

Salvage efforts at the Francis Scott Key Bridge in 2024. (Photo Credit: Andrew Leyden)

When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in the early hours of March 26, 2024, following the allision of the M/V Dali, the impact was immediate and staggering. More than 3,500 feet of steel truss lay twisted across the Fort McHenry Navigation Channel, effectively shutting down the Port of Baltimore and threatening severe economic disruption.

At Tugs, Towboats & Barges (TTB) 2026, taking place March 10–11 in Mobile, Ala., attendees will hear firsthand how one of the most complex marine salvage operations in recent history unfolded.

In the session “From Collapse to Clearance: The Key Bridge Salvage Operation,” Timothy P. Williamson, vice president of salvage operations at New Jersey-based Donjon Marine Company, will detail how the company mobilized within 24 hours under the direction of the U.S. Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV). Working as the Navy’s Lead Emergency Salvage Contractor for Zone A, Donjon deployed the 1,000-ton Chesapeake 1000 crane and the Ferrell 256 crane barge to begin the massive task of debris removal.

Williamson will walk through the coordination between Donjon, SUPSALV, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Unified Command, and multiple federal and state agencies—a multi-agency response with few modern parallels. The presentation will examine the logistical, engineering and operational challenges involved in restoring the Patapsco River channel and reopening a critical gateway for U.S. commerce.

For vessel owners, operators, and maritime professionals, the session offers valuable insight into emergency response coordination, heavy-lift salvage strategy, and the realities of executing high-risk operations under intense public and economic pressure.

Join us at TTB 2026 to gain an inside look at the operation that moved Baltimore from collapse to clearance. Registration is open. For questions on sponsorships, please contact David Harkey at [email protected].