Baltimore’s Ships Not Expected Here

This week’s bridge collapse in Baltimore likely won’t result in a surge in ship traffic in New Haven.

New Haven’s port doesn’t take ​“container” ships. Plenty of bigger ports in larger cities closer to Baltimore do.

So explained New Haven Port Authority Executive Director Sally Kruse when asked whether or not New Haven’s port in the Annex should expect a bump in ship traffic due to Tuesday’s early morning crash and bridge collapse in the Port of Baltimore.

The bridge disaster appears to have left six construction workers dead. It is expected to disrupt global shipping and supply chains for weeks to come as ships are diverted to other ports.

New Haven’s industrial port is already a busy one. According to a request for proposals (RFP) put out by the port authority for the development of a strategic master plan for the 366-acre port district, New Haven’s port is the second most active in New England, after Boston. It has the highest volume of commercial shipping in Long Island Sound. It can accommodate ships ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 deadweight tons, and has 10 ​“berthing facilities” — or spots for ships to pull in — at terminals ranging from 200 to 1,500 feet. 

So. Why might not ship traffic diverted from Baltimore end up in the Elm City?

First, Kruse said, because New Haven’s port does not currently accept container ships, like the one that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge. New Haven’s port is equipped to handle only ​“bulk, break bulk and liquid bulk materials” like steel, lumber, concrete, fuel, chemicals, and scrap metal. It doesn’t have the cranes and other specialized equipment needed to lift containers, which typically carry all different types of consumer goods — from food to furniture to electronics.

Also, Kruse said, New Haven is not a ​“roll on / roll off” port that accepts cars and other vehicles, which Baltimore’s port specializes in. 

Perhaps most importantly, larger ports closer to Baltimore will receive increased vessel traffic before New Haven should expect any. Those include ports in Delaware, Philadelphia, and New York / New Jersey.

Kruse reported that, as of Wednesday, the United States Coast Guard has not seen an increase in notifications required 96 hours ahead of time for vessels heading to New Haven. She said she spoke with a few of New Haven’s terminal operations and ​“they haven’t been asked to receive diverted vessels yet. If the other ports get constrained, traffic may come to New Haven, but it’s unlikely to be a dramatically noticeable increase.”