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Market Matters Blog           03/26 19:33

   Tragedy Strikes Baltimore as Ship Crashes Into Francis Scott Key Bridge

   A container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge early Tuesday morning, 
causing a catastrophic failure as the bridge collapsed. Shipping and 
agricultural interests are still determining the impact the accident will have 
on shipping in and out of the Port of Baltimore.

Mary Kennedy
DTN Basis Analyst

   A container ship struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore at about 
1:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday morning, causing it to collapse and sent cars and a 
construction crew into the Patapsco River. Two people were rescued from the 
disaster -- one uninjured and the second in critical condition.

   While U.S. Coast Guard and other emergency officials continue searching to 
rescue six unaccounted people and damage assessment efforts, shipping and 
agricultural interests began to weigh in on the accident's effect on shipping 
in and out of the Port of Baltimore.

   The U.S. Coast Guard told media the Dali, a 984-foot-by-158-foot container 
ship, headed from Baltimore to Colombo, Sri Lanka, collided with the bridge in 
the early hours of Tuesday after appearing to lose power and control.

   LIVES SAVED BY MAYDAY CALL

   The cargo ship's crew issued a mayday call moments before the crash took 
down the Francis Scott Key Bridge, enabling authorities to start limiting 
vehicle traffic on the bridge, Maryland's governor said -- this helped to save 
lives.

   To hear the Maryland Transportation Authority Police Dispatch and Response 
to the emergency call just before the collision and collapse, go to 
https://youtu.be/RkjZImSG7j4?feature=shared. Unfortunately, construction 
workers on the bridge were not able to evacuate in time.

   "The crash happened in the middle of the night, long before the busy morning 
commute on the bridge that stretches 1.6 miles (2.6 km) and was used by 12 
million vehicles last year," AP reported.

   While vehicle traffic is being affected by the bridge collapse, so is the 
Port of Baltimore closed now to ships until further notice.

   AP added that "The collapse is almost sure to create a logistical nightmare 
for months, if not years, along the East Coast, shutting down ship traffic at 
the Port of Baltimore, a major shipping hub. The accident will also snarl cargo 
and commuter traffic."

   IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

   "Given the dramatic events overnight at the Francis Scott Key Bridge at 
Baltimore, I wanted to pass along some statistics regarding the Port of 
Baltimore as it applies to agriculture," said Mike Steenhoek,

   executive director of Soy Transportation Coalition, in an email to DTN. 

   "In 2020 (the most recent year available from USDA), the Port of Baltimore 
exported 142,152 metric tons (mt) of soybeans via container. There are no 
reported soybean exports via bulk vessel. The port imported 172,228 mt of 
soybeans via container and 34,185 mt of soybeans via bulk vessels. In contrast, 
the Mississippi Gulf region -- the leading export region for soybeans -- 
accounted for 35.4 million metric tons of soybean exports by bulk. There are no 
exports of soybeans via container from the Mississippi Gulf region," explained 
Steenhoek.

   The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a helpful resource that monitors 
agricultural imports and exports by port region: 
https://agtransport.usda.gov/stories/s/U-S-Agricultural-Port-Profiles/7vku-v3nn/

   The top five agricultural products handled (import and export combined) at 
the Port of Baltimore are:

   1. Sugar

   2. Soybeans

   3. Grain products (including corn and wheat)

   4. Coffee

   5. Grocery Items

   Also, the Port of Baltimore is the leading port for the import and export of 
automobiles and light trucks.

   "While the Port of Baltimore is not a significant port region for soybeans 
and grain, it obviously is a significant resource for the broader economy. It 
also underscores the reality that while our oceans are vast and expansive, the 
ports that serve as the origins and destinations for global commerce can be 
vulnerable -- whether due to weather, accident, or attack.  Investing in, 
maintaining, and securing these essential links in our national and global 
economy must remain a national priority," added Steenhoek.

   "Losing this bridge will devastate the entire area, as well as the entire 
East Coast," Maryland State Sen. Johnny Ray Salling told AP.

   RESPONSE TO THE DISASTER

   President Joe Biden spoke on the bridge collapse Tuesday afternoon, saying 
the federal government will send all the resources needed by the city and 
state. "It's my intention that federal government will pay for the entire cost 
of reconstructing that bridge," he said, adding that he expects Congress to 
support the effort.

   "The search-and-rescue operation is our top priority. Ship traffic in the 
Port of Baltimore has been suspended until further notice. And we'll need to 
clear that channel before the ship traffic can resume. The Army Corps of 
Engineers is on the spot and is going to help lead this effort to clear the 
channel," Biden said. 
(https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/03/26/remarks-by
-president-biden-on-the-collapse-of-the-francis-scott-key-bridge/)

   Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in a news release on his website this morning said, 
"My office is in close communication with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete 
Buttigieg, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Baltimore County Executive Johnny 
Olszewski, and the Baltimore Fire Department as emergency personnel are on the 
scene following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. 

   "I have declared a State of Emergency here in Maryland and we are working 
with an interagency team to quickly deploy federal resources from the Biden 
Administration. We are thankful for the brave men and women who are carrying 
out efforts to rescue those involved and pray for everyone's safety."

   Moore added, "We will remain in close contact with federal, state, and local 
entities that are carrying out rescue efforts as we continue to assess and 
respond to this tragedy."

   Buttigieg visited Baltimore Tuesday and on X, formerly known as Twitter, 
said he'd spoken with the governor and mayor, "to offer USDOT's support 
following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. 
Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow 
local responder guidance on detours and response."

   To see the importance of the port to farm equipment, see related DTN story 
at 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/equipment/article/2024/03/27/balti
more-bridge-collapse-affect.

   Mary Kennedy can be reached at Mary.Kennedy@dtn.com

   Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @MaryCKenn




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