Port of Baltimore Marine Traffic Suspended Until Further Notice

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has highlighted the significant and long-term effects on supply chains due to the indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore.

The Port of Baltimore Administration has stated, “Vessel traffic into and out of the Port of Baltimore is suspended until further notice. This does not mean the Port of Baltimore is closed. Trucks are being processed within our marine terminals.”

Nevertheless, the exact duration of the suspension of vessel traffic remains uncertain, with the administration admitting, “we do not know how long vessel traffic will be suspended. As soon as that is determined we will provide an update.”

Known primarily for its automobile handling capabilities, the Port of Baltimore also manages a significant portion of the US's coal shipments, in addition to Ro-Ro (roll-on/roll-off) and container cargo.

With a notable record set on February 24th, Baltimore is ranked among the top ten US ports for cargo volume, handling 52.3 million tonnes of cargo valued at over $80 billion in 2023, which includes 1.1 million TEUs processed at its terminals.

Port officials have further indicated that container traffic is expected to surge following the completion of the CSX-owned Howard Street Tunnel expansion. This project, aimed at accommodating double-stacked container rail cars, promises to “enable seamless double-stack capacity from Maine to Florida.”

It entails clearance enhancements in the 127-year-old tunnel and at 21 additional sites between Baltimore and Philadelphia, with an anticipated completion date in 2027.