Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses After Collision

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore was struck by a 948-foot cargo ship and collapsed early Tuesday morning, causing the bridge and several cars to fall into the Patapsco River. 

The vessel reportedly lost power and drifted into the bridge at approximately 1:28 am. Onlookers saw the ship’s lights turn on and off multiple times before the collision.

Maryland governor Wes Moore said that the ship's operators managed to issue a mayday call immediately before the collision, allowing police to limit vehicle traffic on the bridge.

The 47-year-old bridge carried more than 12.4 million commercial and passenger vehicles in 2023, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. It’s one of three ways to cross the harbor into Baltimore.

Moore quickly a State of Emergency while the rescue efforts continued.

Effect on Supply Chain

The collapse of the Key Bridge, a critical part of Baltimore’s infrastructure, will have major implications on the supply chain. The Port of Baltimore is the biggest handler of US imports and exports of cars and light trucks, handling 847,158 autos and light trucks in 2023. It also processes farm and construction machinery, sugar, gypsum, and coal.  

At least 10 commercial ships that were en route to the U.S. port of Baltimore were forced to drop their anchor in nearby waters, according to MarineTraffic.

While it's still too early to predict the economic impact of this accident, major companies including Amazon, FedEx, Home Depot, BMW, and Under Armour, which have distribution warehouses or other facilities in a nearby industrial park, rely on the port to move goods.

Nearby cities New York City, Charleston, and Norfolk are likely to handle additional imports while Baltimore rebuilds its infrastructure.

Cargo ship safety

The Dali container vessel was chartered by Danish shipping company Maersk and bound for Colombo, Sri Lanka, reports indicate.

Maersk said:

“We are horrified by what has happened in Baltimore, and our thoughts are with all of those affected. No Maersk crew and personnel were onboard the vessel. We are closely following the investigations conducted by authorities and Synergy, and we will do our utmost to keep our customers informed.”

The ship is owned by Singapore's Grace Ocean Private and managed by Synergy Marine Group, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group.

Collisions of this magnitude between ships and bridges are relatively rare. It has been over 40 years since a freight ship struck Tampa's Sunshine Skyway, reportedly killing 35 people who fell in their vehicles from the bridge deck into the water.