News
Port of Baltimore reopens after bridge collapse, resumes coal and cargo operations
Vessels are back in Baltimore! Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Port of Baltimore has reopened for nearly all vessel sizes. A 45-foot channel is now operational, allowing most vessels, except the largest containerships from the Panama Canal to dock.
Recent activities include Atlantic Container Line's Atlantic Sun and an MSC vessel discharging and loading RO/RO and Mafi cargo. Major RO/RO carriers like Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hoegh Lines are also accepting bookings, with Bahri confirming an arrival later this month. While the 50-foot federal channel is expected to open by the end of May, Zim Lines and MSC are already taking bookings from Asia, with Evergreen and Maersk soon to follow.
Longshoremen, idled for nearly seven weeks, are gradually returning to work. The Port of Norfolk, overwhelmed with diverted cargo, and New York, experiencing delays at Faps Terminal, are expected to see relief as Baltimore resumes operations.
CSX will return to normal coal export operations at the Curtis Bay coal terminal this week. CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs confirmed the normalization of coal operations at the Reuters Supply Chain conference in Atlanta. The Dali container ship, which caused the bridge collapse on March 26, has been refloated and moved for assessment at Seagirt Terminal. This incident had paralyzed trade at the port, a key hub for coal, finished automobiles, and other goods.
Baltimore accounted for 28% of U.S. coal exports in 2023. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has revised its 2024 coal export forecast, now predicting a smaller decline of 1.1% compared to an earlier 5.3% forecast, reflecting the port's recovery and successful rerouting of coal shipments. The resilient community at the Port of Baltimore, supported by federal, state, and local governments, has worked tirelessly to reopen the port. The efforts of the Unified Command Team have been instrumental in this rapid recovery, enabling the port to resume vital trade operations.