marylandThe collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has attracted great attention from all walks of life. In addition to casualties, as a vital hub on Interstate 695 and a gateway to the Port of Baltimore, the bridge’s collapse had major consequences for logistics,the supply chainIts impact and potential economic loss cannot be ignored.
On the morning of the 26th, a container ship flying the Singapore flag lost power after leaving the port of Baltimore and collided with the bridge, causing the bridge to collapse. Eight construction workers fell into the water on the bridge, and two of them were rescued. Six missing persons were presumed dead, and bodies of two missing persons have been recovered so far.
Information from the ship’s voyage data records has been sent to the US National Transportation Safety Board. Committee chairman Homendy said investigators would try to determine through analysis how the ship lost power.
The collapse of the 47 year old bridge after the collision has also raised questions on its structure. The New York Times reported that some structural engineers said the container ship hit the pier at a critical part of the bridge’s structural supports, but the pier appeared to lack a protective barrier. If there had been equipment to prevent and divert collisions around the bridge, the tragedy might have been avoided.
Homendy said protective structures will be part of the investigation into the bridge collapse. The committee will investigate how the bridge was built, examine its structure and analyze whether safety improvements should be made.
Professor Benjamin Schaefer of the Department of Civil Engineering at Johns Hopkins University explained that although the collapse of the bridge was not due to serious aging, from the 1970s when the bridge was built to today, the size of ships has increased significantly, and the number of ships entering the port has increased significantly. The relevant rules and procedures for entry and exit should be adjusted accordingly.
The Key Bridge is approximately 2.6 kilometers long, with an annual traffic volume of approximately 11.5 million vehicles and more than 30,000 vehicle trips per day. After the bridge collapse, maritime traffic around the Port of Baltimore came to a halt and the Port of Baltimore was also closed. Ships stranded in the port were unable to leave the port, and many ships in transit were unable to enter the port.
Although the Port of Baltimore is much smaller than the Port of New York on the East Coast and the Port of Long Beach, California on the West Coast, it plays an important role in the import of automotive products and is the largest automotive port in the world. United States of america. This accident is sure to have an impact on the supply chain. Maryland Port Authority data shows the port handling at least 800,000 more cars and light trucks in 2023.
Abe Ashkenazi, head of the Association for Supply Chain Management, said some automakers would have to go to other East Coast ports in New York, New Jersey or Virginia, which could increase shipping costs.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Port of Baltimore is famous for the transportation of coal, sugar, and specialized equipment such as tractors and cranes. The collapse of the bridge could have caused “months of chaos” for shipping on the East Coast.
Transportation Minister Buttigieg said on the 27th that the value of goods entering and leaving the port every day exceeds 100 million yuan, and the closure of the port will directly affect 8,000 jobs. In an interview given to the media, America’s Maryland Governor Moore said that the livelihood of more than 140,000 people will be indirectly affected.
Data from the economic analysis firm IMPLAN shows that closing the Port of Baltimore for a month would cause an economic loss of $28 million to Maryland.
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