On March 26, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being struck by a cargo ship. With the Port of Baltimore being the ninth largest port in the United States in terms of volume, the closure of the port may impact transit times and result in additional costs for shipments into and out of the U.S.
Fortunately, there were no Weichert shipments that were directly impacted by the accident; however we are committed to alerting our clients to potential impacts and staying ahead of the issue so our clients can make informed decisions.
Relocating employees with impacted shipments are being notified by their move coordinators and receiving continuous updates on where their shipment will be rerouted to and the adjusted transit time.
Our Recommendations
Weichert recommends that clients consider pre-approved exceptions for U.S. inbound/outbound shipments that are impacted by this disaster. Further consideration should be given to any relocating employee whose shipment is delayed and needs to extend their temporary living while awaiting the delivery of their household goods. At this time, shipments that are unable to leave Port of Baltimore are being rerouted to other ports.
Agencies are currently working on creating a temporary restricted channel for essential vessels to assist in recovery as part of a phased approach to reopen the main channel. Maersk Line has already announced that they are planning substitute services through the east coast of North America, and as more shipping leaders follow suit, ports on the US west and Gulf coast may see more cargo.
At this time, it is unclear how long it will take to complete the bridge cleanup and reopen traffic to the port.
A recent Linerlytica report suggests that – thankfully — the temporary closure of Baltimore’s port will not have a dramatic impact on supply chains, with just under 5% of all boxes processed at US east coast ports last year. The report notes: “There’s sufficient container handling capacity at the neighboring ports of Norfolk and New York, where the cargo affected by the Baltimore port closure is currently being diverted.”
The Weichert Move Network has a global presence in over 200 countries and provides peace of mind for mobile employees. Our network is currently made up of domestic and international van lines with combined resources of over 14,000 vehicles and 1,215 locations worldwide. Our commitment to transparency and cost containment will remain paramount during this situation.
Weichert will continue to monitor this situation and provide further updates as needed. Please reach out to your Client Services Director with any questions or concerns.
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