Savannah officials extend support to Baltimore following collapse of Francis Scott Key Bridge

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - As recovery efforts continue in Baltimore, officials in Savannah are offering their thoughts.

The Georgia Ports Authority says Savannah Port Pilots handled two thousand ships in fiscal year 2023.

Mayor Van Johnson says as an active Port City with large ships passing under a critical Talmadge Bridge, officials are monitoring the situation in Baltimore very closely.

Savannah officials offering their support to Baltimore leaders in the wake of that city’s container ship crash and ensuing Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

“I have reached out to Mayor Scott and whatever help we certainly can offer we’re willing to do that,” said Mayor Van Johnson, City of Savannah. “My mind of course turned to Savannah,” he added.

Following the crash in Baltimore, attention is shifting locally to the Port of Savannah and the ships that pass under the Talmadge Bridge.

In a statement the Georgia Ports Authority says the Talmadge Bridge does not have any support columns in the Federal shipping Channel, and that Savannah Port Pilots use two to three tugs as a precaution when bringing ships in and out of the river port.

“There’s about a dozen vessels in the Chesapeake Bay wondering what are we going to do now,” said Dr. Christian Rossetti, Georgia Southern University Logistics Professor.

With the incident forcing the closure of Baltimore’s port, Georgia Southern University logistics professor Dr. Christian Rossetti says it’s possible southeastern areas could see an increase in rerouted cargo...particularly automobile shipments.

“You’re going to see a movement of cars to either Charleston, Brunswick, etc,” said Rosetti. “The Port of Savannah has made big investments in being able to handle diversified freight,” he added.

As port cities watch the scene in Baltimore unfold leaders in Savannah say their attention now turns to how officials would react if a similar situation happened here.

“It’s not something we would’ve thought about, but I think it’s something that we might want to create a tabletop on from an emergency management standpoint,” said Johnson.

The Georgia Department of Transportation manages the Talmadge bridge, and they released a statement today saying that they’re awaiting answers from investigators on the cause of the collision.

Until then, they’re offering prayers for everyone affected in Baltimore.

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