Cranes began arriving in Baltimore yesterday, Thursdayin the eastern US, as part of efforts to clear the debris of a bridge that collapsed after a cargo ship crashed into it, with authorities warning that it will be a long time before the port can reopen.

The cranes are to remove pieces of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, used by thousands of vehicles every day and which collapsed on Tuesday after a container ship crashed into it.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore explained to reporters last night that the Port of Baltimore “the largest crane on the east coast will be brought in to help us.”

“Before we start lifting (the pieces), we have to find a way to cut the bridge into pieces of a size that can be pulled out of the water with the help of a crane,” explained Port Vice Admiral Shannon Gilreath.

The bodies of two of the six missing workers were found on Wednesday.

Operations to locate the bodies of the remaining four have been suspended because authorities have deemed it too dangerous to send divers to the crash site.

“The water is so dark and the debris so dense that in most cases divers can’t see more than 30 to 60 centimeters away,” Moore explained.

The four men, all immigrants from Latin America, they are believed to have been killed when the Dali, a 300m long and 48m wide cargo ship, crashed into one of the bridge’s pylons due to mechanical failure.

A total of eight workers were on the bridge at the time of the accident carrying out road construction works. Two of them were rescued shortly after the collapse.

Residents of the area attended a memorial service in a nearby park yesterday morning, local media reported, while Baltimore City launched a fundraiser to support their families.

When it comes to restoring the bridge, Maryland’s governor warned that there is “a long way to go.”

The state asked the federal government for an initial amount 60 million dollars and the US Department of Transportation announced “the immediate release” of the amount.

That amount “will help Maryland begin the most immediate work,” with additional money to follow “as the restoration of the bridge progresses,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttizage said.

“No one will ever forget the shocking images of a container ship crashing into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing it to collapse and tragically killing six people,” the White House said in a statement.

After the tragic event, President Joe Biden pledged that the federal government will cover the full cost of restoring the bridge.

Because of the accident, the port of Baltimore – the ninth largest in the US in terms of activity – has suspended its operations.