Many shipping analysts have been predicting that the shutdown of the Port of Baltimore would not significantly affect container rates to the U.S. East Coast. As predicted, container rates continue to fall.
Other nearby seaports have had adequate handling capacity to compensate. The rates on core Asia-USEC routes have actually fallen since Baltimore’s inner harbor shut down, according to a freight intelligence firm.
On March 26, the boxship Dali hit a pier on the Francis Scott Key Bridge, killing six road workers. The wreckage closed the harbor to deep-draft traffic, including container ships.