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Yesterday, CSX Transportation announced it implemented an interim plan to accommodate coal deliveries pending repairs to one of two piers at the Class I's Curtis Bay coal facility in Baltimore. The Bayside shiploader and pier were damaged on Aug. 25 by a vessel that struck the pier while heading to another facility.

The damaged pier handles larger "Capesize" vessels and the other pier handles smaller "Panamax" vessels, CSXT officials said in a prepared statement.

Until full loading capability is restored at the Bayside pier, Panamax vessels will be loaded to maximum allowable capacity at the other pier, then moved to deeper water at the damaged pier and topped off using clam shell loading equipment on barges carrying coal, they said.

The handling of Capesize vessels while the pier is repaired will be evaluated on a ship-by-ship basis, with the potential to expand the top-off operation to those vessels or load them at multiple terminals, CSXT officials said, adding that a timeline for the Bayside repairs still is being developed.