‘A Lot of Chaos’: Bridge Collapse

Creates Upheaval at Largest U.S.

Port for Car Trade
A bridge collapse closed the city’s port, an important trade hub that ranks first in the
nation by the volume of automobiles and light trucks it handles.

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Shipping in the Port of Baltimore

Monthly cargo handled by the Port of Baltimore
Note: Data as of January 2024.
Source: Maryland Port Administration
Ella Koeze

By Peter Eavis and Jenny Gross

 March 26, 2024Updated 6:56 p.m. ET

The Baltimore bridge disaster on Tuesday upended operations at one of the nation’s
busiest ports, with disruptions likely to be felt for weeks by companies shipping
goods in and out of the country — and possibly by consumers as well.

The upheaval will be especially notable for auto makers and coal producers for whom
Baltimore has become one of the most vital shipping destinations in the United
States.

As officials began to investigate why a nearly 1,000-foot cargo ship ran into the
Francis Scott Key Bridge in the middle of the night, companies that transport goods
to suppliers and stores scrambled to get trucks to the other East Coast ports receiving
goods diverted from Baltimore. Ships sat idle elsewhere, unsure where and when to
dock.

“It’s going to cause a lot of chaos,” said Paul Brashier, vice president for drayage and
intermodal at ITS Logistics.
The closure of the Port of Baltimore is the latest hit to global supply chains, which
have been strained by monthslong crises at the Panama Canal, which has had to
slash traffic because of low water levels; and the Suez Canal, which shipping
companies are avoiding because of attacks by the Houthis on vessels in the Red Sea.

The auto industry now faces new supply headaches.

Last year, 570,000 vehicles were imported through Baltimore, according to Sina
Golara, an assistant professor of supply chain management at Georgia State
University. “That’s a huge amount,” he said, equivalent to nearly a quarter of the
current inventory of new cars in the United States.

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A correction was made on

March 26, 2024
:

An earlier version of this article misstated the Port of Baltimore’s rank among U.S.
ports. It was the nation’s 17th biggest port by total tons in 2021, not the 20th
largest.

When we learn of a mistake, we acknowledge it with a correction. If you spot an error, please
let us know at nytnews@nytimes.com.Learn more

Peter Eavis reports on business, financial markets, the economy and companies across
different sectors. More about Peter Eavis

Jenny Gross is a reporter for The Times in London covering breaking news and other
topics. More about Jenny Gross

A version of this article appears in print on March 27, 2024, Section A,

Page 19 of the New York edition with the headline: Closure of
Transport Hub Adds to Run of Setbacks For Global Supply
Chains. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe
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