BRIDGE COLLAPSE
Maryland Governor Wes Moore declared a state of emergency for the city of Baltimore after a container ship collided with a support column of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing a total collapse early in the morning of March 26, 2024.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge stretched 1.6 miles across the Patapsco River and into the Port of Baltimore. Approximately 35,000 people used the bridge daily to commute to work or to transport cargo to the Port of Baltimore.
SUPPLY CHAIN IMPACT
Infrastructure disasters, like the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse, are rare in the United States. Tragedies like this one impact the supply chain in various ways that include diminished port operations, shipping delays, rerouting vessels, and at times cargo loss.
Port Operations: Vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended indefinitely. The Key Bridge covers the entire waterway leading to the Seagirt Marine Terminal. As the leading U.S. East Coast port for RORO cargo as well as farming and construction machinery and automobiles, this disruption will have a major impact on multiple industries. The Port is the 9th largest port in the U.S. for international cargo.
Ground Transportation: Authorities are redirecting all traffic to the Harbor and Fort McHenry Tunnels which both see more than double the amount of traffic already. Road transportation will be directly impacted by the collapse as congestion increases around the Port of Baltimore. Vehicles transporting hazardous materials are prohibited in the tunnels and must now use the western section of I-695. Transit times for hazardous materials will be heavily impacted.
Green Worldwide Shipping is monitoring this supply chain disruption and will provide updates as the situation evolves.
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