Biden vows to ‘move heaven and earth’ to rebuild Key Bridge and reopen Baltimore port after collapse

President Joe Biden on Tuesday vowed to use federal government resources to quickly rebuild Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and reopen the Port of Baltimore after a container ship struck a bridge pier and collapsed the structure, blocking off a vital shipping channel and clogging traffic on a major interstate highway.

Speaking from the Roosevelt Room just before departing the White House for a campaign swing through North Carolina, Mr Biden praised emergency responders and said he has been in close contact with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, the state’s two senators, Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, as well as Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Mayor Brandon Scott and Representative Kewsi Fume, the House member whose district encompasses the collapsed bridge.

The president said he and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are sending the Maryland officials “all the federal resources they need as we respond to this emergency” and promised that they would “rebuild that port together”.

“We're incredibly grateful for the brave rescuers who immediately rushed to the sea and to the people of Baltimore,” he said. “We’re with you, we're going to stay with you as long as it takes.”

The president’s comments came just under 12 hours after the Singaporean-flagged cargo carrier Dali lost power and issued a distress call stating that the massive vessel had lost the ability to manoeuvre after departing the Port of Baltimore at approximately 1am ET.

The container ship slammed into one of the bridge’s support piers, causing a progressive collapse as the 50-year-old structure tumbled into the Patapsco River.

Mr Biden said the evidence available to federal authorities has given them no reason to consider the collision and