The president of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local 333 in Baltimore, Maryland, said the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge will have major consequences for the port’s workforce and the state’s economy for the foreseeable future.
"We are at a standstill, we make our living off of import and export cargo, unloading and loading, discharging and loading ships," Scott Cowan, president of ILA Local 333, said. "This is going to put a very big strain on the economy in the state of Maryland because the port of Baltimore is one of the main engines, main drivers of the economy of Maryland, this is going to create a big problem."
The ILA’s work relies on the flow of cargo ships through the port as its workers are responsible for securing loads on and off the deck, operating the cranes and running the boxes throughout the yard.
"Until those ships can come up and down the bay, the little bit of cargo that's in the terminal will be imported and exported out and then we'll be waiting for the channel to open — I don't know how long it's going to take," Cowan added.
Cowan said that these massive cargo shops are very difficult to stop — especially when you face issues with power outage and propulsion.
"This is not like a car, they don't have brakes," Cowan said.