Focus at Four: Logistics expert on the fallout of Baltimore bridge collapse
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – As KBTX continues to update the public on the news of the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, it is important to note that the shipping port is a significant one.
Not only is it next to the second headquarters for Amazon, but the port is the largest U.S. port by volume for handling farm and construction machinery and agricultural products, according to Reuters.
Eleftherios “Lefteris” Iakovou with the Texas A&M Department of Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution joined First News at Four on Tuesday to discuss the supply chain, logistics and issues surrounding the collapse.
Iakovou said that the impact will mainly be on automotive imports.
“The port of Baltimore imports and exports about 1,000,000 containers per year. That’s a small scale, 3% of port containers across the U.S.; however, it is the number one in the country,” he said.
One of the bigger impacts of the collapse will be traffic, according to Iakovou.
“Expect huge traffic even for hazardous materials that usually you try to avoid within the civic area because you utilize and rig roads. Now you have to deal with that,” he said.
But Iakovou ultimately noted that prioritizing victims of this collapse should be the focus.
“Here, we’re talking about the economic consequences. [The] top priority now is to ensure that people are okay and to try to save us as many human lives as possible. Now there’s debris of the bridge within the deepest part of the tunnel that will take a lot of time to clear.”
“I think the waterway will not be operational for a long time,” he said.
