BALTIMORE – The Port of Baltimore may reopen for normal operations by the end of May after a limited-access channel is cleared for some ship traffic late in May, the US Army Corps of Engineers said.

The first official timetable from the salvage operation was posted on the US Army website on April 4, the day before President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Baltimore.

The United States’ largest maritime gateway for cars, trucks and farm equipment closed indefinitely after a container ship destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, killing six and trapping some vessels at the docks while forcing others to divert to other ports.

White House advisers have called major Baltimore employers, including Amazon and Home Depot, to encourage them to retain jobs.

Opening a 61m-wide, 11m passageway will take about four weeks, the Army Corps said in outlining the tentative plan. The restoration of the original channel – measuring 213m wide and 15m deep – is expected to take until late May.

“These are ambitious timelines that may still be impacted by significant adverse weather conditions or changes in the complexity of the wreckage,” Lieutenant-General Scott Spellmon, commanding general of the Army Corps, said in the post.

“We are working quickly and safely to clear the channel and restore full service at this port that is so vital to the nation.”

Bloomberg reported on April 4 that federal officials are poised to release preliminary findings of their investigation within days.

Tainted shipping fuel, which has resulted in serious and sometimes complete engine failure, is one of the factors under scrutiny. BLOOMBERG