Cargo ship collision with Francis Scott Key Bridge causes its collapse, halts vessel traffic at Port of Baltimore, disrupting container terminals and rerouting cargo arrivals; Maryland Port Administration suspends traffic indefinitely

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a large cargo ship collided with a key bridge at the US Port of Baltimore, causing its collapse and halting vessel traffic at the port.

The ship, bound for Sri Lanka, collided with the Francis Scott Bridge shortly after departing from Baltimore’s port.

Impact on port operations

In terms of volume capacity for the Port of Baltimore, the bridge collapse will disrupt access to the container terminals which handled 1.1 million TEU, roughly 21,000 TEU per week in 2023. New cargo arrivals to the terminal will be rerouted through other ports in the region.

According to Reuters.com, the Port of Baltimore is the busiest in the country for wheeled commodities, handling over 750,000 vehicles in 2023. It is also the largest by volume for handling farm and construction machinery, agricultural products, and operates a cruise terminal. Additionally, it is one of only three US East Coast ports capable of accommodating the world’s largest ships.

As a response to the incident, the Maryland Port Administration has suspended vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore indefinitely. Trucks inside of the port’s terminals are still being processed.

DSV is closely monitoring the situation and remains committed to keeping you informed and assisting you in your business operations. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to your local DSV representative.