Port of Baltimore bridge collapse rattles supply chains already rocked by troubles in Panama and the Red Sea

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Simona Stan, University of Montana

(THE CONVERSATION) The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, has put a spotlight on the Port of Baltimore, one of the busiest harbors in the U.S., which paused shipping and immediately halted all vessel traffic in and out.

The port remained open to trucks following the incident, but the loss of maritime traffic is expected to cost US$9 million a day. The overall economic toll is likely to be higher as billions of dollars of goods are rerouted amid the prospect of supply chains being snarled for months. It will also mean a loss of tax revenue for the city and state.

The Conversation asked Simona Stan, a supply chain and logistics expert at the University of Montana, to explain the short- and long-term impacts of the crash on supply chains.

How important is the Port...