logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
17m 29s

The Baltimore bridge collapse – what hap...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

It's been two months since the collapse of the key bridge in Baltimore, and the deadline to unblock the port's shipping channel is imminent. The US government has given a loose promise to make it happen by the end of May - but there are doubts that deadline will be met, causing more disruption to the local and global economy. How will businesses on sea and land find a way through more uncertainty?

Izzy Greenfield speaks to small businesses who are feeling the impact; from fewer customers to disruption to supply chains.

Baltimore used to rank first among US ports for autos and light trucks, handling a record 850,000 vehicles last year. Importantly, the port is where vehicles are processed and labelled to be sold domestically. We hear how the industry is seeing an immediate impact. And we learn about the struggles that transportation workers continue to face.

(Image: Baltimore bridge after it collapsed in March 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield

Up next
Oct 9
Business Daily meets: Fani Titi, Investec CEO
The South African grew up under the racist apartheid system as one of 14 children. He looked set for a life in farming, until a chance event took him down a different path – ultimately becoming CEO of the multinational banking group, Investec. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: El ... Show More
17m 27s
Oct 8
Small country: Big tariffs
We head to Switzerland, a small but very successful country with a population of just 9 million.And now coping with some of US President Donald Trump’s highest tariffs. In August the original threat of 31% tariffs was raised to 39%. Two months on, efforts to negotiate with Washin ... Show More
17m 30s
Oct 7
Should we expect more airline delays?
Passengers are suffering more disruption as technology at airports, airlines and air traffic control is failing.But why is aviation software becoming more prone to failure and vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and what is the solution to preventing delays?Presented and produced by Rus ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
One bridge, thousands of jobs affected
The Port of Baltimore remains cut off after the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. It’s already having effects on supply chains, but it’s also impacting the jobs and livelihoods of folks in the region. We unpack. Plus, households accumulated more wealth during the p ... Show More
9m 42s
Mar 2024
Maryland gov: clearing bride wreckage is a daunting task
Specifics measures revealed on the massive operation to reopen a critical shipping port and to get that collapsed bridge off a cargo ship in Baltimore including cutting the bridge into pieces, tug boats, barges, and cranes. We ask a Republican who calls himself a budget hawk abou ... Show More
43m 1s
Jan 2024
S2E5: Steering through Stormy Seas with Maritime Expert Don Maier
In our January episode, Ted Stank and Tom Goldsby speak with maritime expert Don Maier about the state of international shipping, including shifts in trade lanes, the challenges of forecasting and capital planning, and the industry impact of issues from the Panama Canal to bubbli ... Show More
36m 24s
Mar 2024
SBF Gets 25 Years for Crypto Fraud & Who Pays for Baltimore Bridge Collapse?
Episode 290: Neal and Toby discuss Sam Bankman-Fried being sentenced to 25 years and the judge's reasoning for the term length. Then, a really old maritime law complicates the issue of who’s paying for the damages from the Baltimore bridge collapse. Next, the stock market is off ... Show More
28m 7s
Jun 2024
Maritime in Minutes - news roundup May 2024
Surging container freight rates and port congestion. Refloating the Dali in Baltimore. Is more consolidation in offshore marine to come? Just some of the topics we’ll be discussing in this episode of Maritime in Minutes.Seatrade Maritime News’ Marcus Hand and Gary Howard reflect ... Show More
15m 48s
Jan 2024
Another bump in the road?
Will Bain hears from businesses affected by shipping delays in the Red Sea. Plus, how much did damage to vehicles from potholes cost drivers in 2023? 
53m 33s
May 2024
US stocks on a roll
It has been a whirlwind in the US markets - the main indexes all hitting record highs while at the same time, commodity prices are rising. The ship that destroyed the bridge in Baltimore back in March is finally re-floated and back in port.And Business Matters takes a close look ... Show More
49m 22s
Apr 2021
From boom to superboom: Are Suez Canal misfortunes to blame for impending port delays?
Is the recent six-day Suez Canal blockage causing a spike in container box freight? And are the canal's misfortunes the only culprit for impending port delays, or the tip of the iceberg? It may be all too easy to blame the Ever Given incident for the latest logistical issues, rat ... Show More
19m 37s