New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy directed their ports Thursday to accept additional cargo to alleviate supply chain pressures from the shutdown in Baltimore.
The Democrats said the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland and the resulting port closure is touching “every corner of the nation.”
“We have seen over the past several years that indefinite port closures can impact national and global supply chains, which hurt everyday consumers the hardest,” the governors said. “The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey can take on additional cargo, and we have directed the Authority to further evaluate all available resources to minimize supply chain disruptions.”
The Port Authority manages river crossing into New York City and regional airports but also maintains sites such as the Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal, which handles some of the largest shipping volumes in the U.S.
The Port of Baltimore was the ninth-busiest in the U.S., handling $80 billion in shipping last year, and serves as a key economic hub for the region. It generates nearly $3.3 billion in total personal income and $2.6 billion in business income annually.
Shipping came to a halt early Tuesday when the Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship, lost power as it was leaving the port and rammed into a pillar of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, collapsing the span and killing six construction workers who were repairing potholes on Interstate 695.
The wreckage of the bridge at the bottom of the Patapsco River has closed the only water route into and out of the port. Officials say the 50-foot-deep shipping channel will be closed for weeks, at a minimum, and possibly for months. Trucks can still access the port terminals.
Ms. Hochul and Mr. Murphy vowed to help Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and “the people of Maryland in any way.”
“Along with our federal partners, we will continue to work together to support our neighbors in Baltimore and consumers nationwide,” they said.
• Dave Boyer contributed to this report.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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