Maryland lawmakers are preparing to introduce emergency legislation to provide financial relief to port employees affected by the Key Bridge collapse, as thousands of livelihoods are at stake.
State Senate President Bill Ferguson (D), representing Baltimore City, announced on social media Wednesday morning that he is collaborating with Del. Luke Clippinger (D) and other lawmakers whose districts include the Port of Baltimore to expedite emergency measures.
According to Ferguson, over 15,000 individuals in the Baltimore region depend on port operations for their jobs.
“The human cost of lives lost yesterday is overwhelming and tragic,” Ferguson wrote on X. “The economic and stability loss to the thousands impacted in the days ahead cannot be understated.”
Ferguson and other officials, including Gov. Wes Moore (D) and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott (D), said they recognize the urgency of getting people back to work and preventing massive income losses.
The governor and mayor have led efforts since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, which occurred in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 26, after a Singapore-registered cargo ship collided with a bridge pillar. Six construction workers involved in bridge repairs are presumed dead after falling below into the Patapsco River.
While truck traffic remains operational, vessel traffic in and out of the Port of Baltimore has been suspended indefinitely, which compounds the economic ramifications of the disaster. The Port of Baltimore is a vital node in the East Coast’s shipping infrastructure, annually handling millions of tons of cargo worth billions of dollars.
The closure has led to a logistical nightmare for shipments, including automobiles, agricultural machinery, and construction equipment, with businesses scrambling to reroute goods to alternate ports. Last year alone, the Port of Baltimore reportedly facilitated the shipment of over 840,000 new cars and trucks, making it the leading American seaport for automotive exports.
The ripple effects of the port’s closure extend far beyond its immediate employees. State officials estimate that over 140,000 jobs indirectly tied to the port across the country could be affected. Moreover, the Port of Baltimore annually contributes approximately $400 million in tax revenue to Maryland.