Maersk Baltimore Port Calls on Hold for Time Being

The operations of Maersk Line involving five services that utilize the Port of Baltimore will be disrupted due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

This incident occurred when the Maersk-operated vessel, the Dali, with a capacity of 10,000 TEU, struck a pillar of the bridge while exiting the Seagirt terminal of the Baltimore Port.

Affected services include Maersk's TA2 and TA5 Transatlantic routes, the TP12 Transpacific route, the Amex service connecting the US East Coast with South Africa, and the AGAS service linking the US East Coast to the Caribbean.

The company conveyed, “Due to the damage to the bridge and resulting debris, it will not be possible to reach the Helen Delich Bentley port of Baltimore for the time being. In line with this, we are omitting Baltimore on all our services for the foreseeable future, until it is deemed safe for passage through this area.”

Maersk has plans to reroute containers currently en route to Baltimore to alternative nearby ports for unloading. Subsequently, the cargo can be transported to its intended destination by truck or rail.

The carrier issued a statement cautioning of potential delays for cargo scheduled to disembark in Baltimore, as these will need to be redirected to other ports. "We’re keeping a close eye on the safety situation in the area and continuing to assess the viability of transportation through the area," the Danish shipping company further stated.