Cruise ships have been forced to move their departure ports from Baltimore due to the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge earlier this week after being hit by a cargo ship.
The Norwegian Cruise Line has greyed out the “Baltimore” option from its destinations on its website. Royal Caribbean doesn’t have another cruise leaving from Baltimore until November of this year. There were two cruises set to sail in April, but the ships will now leave out of Norfolk, Virginia.
Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise had sent out one of its ships before the collapse, which was due to return on Sunday. Instead, the cruise will end its journey in Norfolk, and guests will receive a complimentary four-hour bus ride back to Baltimore. The next cruise, slated to leave that same day, will depart from Norfolk, as will the foreseeable cruise routes.
“Our thoughts remain with the impacted families and first responders in Baltimore,” Carnival President Christine Duffy said. “We appreciate the pledge made by President Biden today to dedicate all available resources to reopen Baltimore Harbor to marine traffic as soon as possible. As those plans are finalized, we will update our future cruise guests on when we will return home to Baltimore, but in the meantime, we appreciate the quick response and support from officials in Norfolk.”
There is no time frame for when the port will reopen. Carnival estimated the port’s closure will cost its company $10 million.
The large cargo ship lost power before it struck the bridge’s support column. It was able to send a mayday distress signal, which alerted authorities to stop traffic from entering the bridge.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
A crew of six construction workers were on the bridge when it collapsed. Divers recovered two of the men’s bodies from the river, while the others are presumed dead. The two identified were Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, 35, from Mexico and Dorlian Ronial Castillo Cabrera, 26, from Guatemala. The other workers were from Honduras and El Salvador.
Between $100 million and $200 million worth of cargo moves through the Baltimore port every day. As a result of the bridge collapse, 10 cargo ships were temporarily stuck without a port. Now ports in Virginia are soliciting more traffic there to avoid the wreckage.
