Bridge collapse will disrupt supply chain
To minimize potential harm to the economy, local state and federal authorities are scrambling to reroute shipments heading to the port of Baltimore.
Cary Davis is CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities.
He says consumers should not be concerned the price of goods will spike thanks to a resilient post pandemic U.S. supply chain. He says neighboring ports have the capacity to handle the rerouted shipments heading their way.
"Even though the channel may be closed the landside operations at the port are actually working," says Davis.
The Baltimore port is a multibillion-dollar hub for foreign car imports, construction machinery, sugar and is the 2nd largest exporter for American coal.
Davis predicts the channel will reopen between 3 to 6 weeks.
Scott Cowan, the President of Local 333, International Longshoremen's Association in the Port of Baltimore, says that timeline is not fast enough for the thousands post workers reliant on shipments.
"I need help now, my people need help now,” says Cowan.
Since the bridge collapse, he says already 2,000 port workers are losing their paychecks and he says the state's economy is in even bigger trouble.
"Maryland loses $109 million a day when the channels close,” says Cowan.
Shailen Batt, the Federal Highway Administrator, says the Department of Transportation and the state of Maryland are considering providing resources to help workers who lose wages.
"The financial wellbeing of workers is top of mind for the Biden Administration for the Moore administration,” says Batt.
Batt says because there is an ongoing investigation and recovery operation it remains unclear when the port will reopen.