Baltimore Bridge Collapse Affects Trade and City

Amanda Ross

Staff Writer 

amr8469@psu.edu

Early in the morning of Mar. 26, 2024, a large cargo ship collided with one of the legs of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. As of now, two have been rescued from the bay, with the Coast Guard declaring the remaining missing six workers presumed dead.

Around 1:30 a.m., officials gained word from the vessel The Dali that they were experiencing substantial power failures within the cargo ship’s engines. Officials then stopped incoming car traffic across the bridge, though road maintenance workers, who were repairing potholes at the time, remained on the bridge. It is unclear as of now whether the workers did not have enough time to evacuate or if they were not instructed to evacuate. The Dali, having lost the ability to maneuver, then collided with one of the metal pillars supporting the bridge. This led to a full collapse of the structure, with vehicles and workers falling into the water below. Coast Guard immediately responded to the scene, rescuing two workers, leaving six of the eight reported working that night still missing. The 22 crew members of The Dali have also been accounted for without any currently reported injuries. 

President Joe Biden stated that he would be allocating government funds to repair the bridge and reopen the port. The Port of Baltimore is the seventeenth largest port in America and generates around three billion in revenue for the city annually. This collapse impedes not only trade within the city and the continental states but also international trade. In particular, this collapse will affect car shipments, as it is the busiest port for the trade, according to a 2022 report by the city. It will also impede travel between the two sides of Baltimore, with the area of Dundalk being particularly affected. Along with the funds, Biden has promised to visit the area as soon as possible.

While government agencies have ruled the bridge failure as unintentional and not due to any significant damage or decay on the bridge’s structure, some are questioning the bridge’s design. The Francis Scott Key Bridge did have dolphins or larger structures meant to be struck first or hardest by ships, but the dolphins were relatively far from some of the bridge’s weaker areas. As well, the bridge did not have fenders, or shielding rock around the supports. While this most likely would not have fully stopped the collapse, due to where the ship hit the supports, it may have increased the time between the hit and the collapse. Ultimately, this will be a consideration for the rebuilding of the bridge. 

As of seven pm. on Mar. 26, the Coast Guard called off the search for the six workers who were presumed dead after the collapse. Many citizens have gone to the port not only to catch a glimpse of the collapsed structure but also to pray and pay respects to those who were lost. As of now, it is not known when the rebuilding of the bridge will begin.