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5/22/2024
CSX is ramping up loading operations at its Curtis Bay coal piers in Baltimore Harbor, two months after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge led to the closure of the region's port.
"This swift recovery of operations is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the CSX team, who worked tirelessly to ensure service continuity for their export coal customers despite the challenging circumstances," CSX officials said in a press release.
The Curtis Bay coal pier in Baltimore Harbor is one of CSX's largest export coal facilities.
"It's important for both the global economy by ensuring coal reaches the market, and for our customers and the health of their business," said John Healy, CSX's director of sales for export coal.
In the early morning hours of March 26, a massive container ship struck one of the bridge piers, causing the structure to collapse into the Patapasco River. Six road crew members, who were working on the bridge at the time of the crash, died.
The bridge collapse halted all shipments out of the port, including coal, due to the inability of ships to access the channel. The interruption posed a significant challenge for the railroad and its customers, CSX officials said. The Class I facilitated partnerships with a third-party barge company to midstream coal from Curtis Bay, transloading it to large vessels in Annapolis, Maryland, and collaborated with steamship lines to create a custom shipping solution between Baltimore and New York.
Those temporary measures ensured that shipments continued to reach their destination, minimizing disruption for customers, CSX officials said.
Also during the recovery period, CSX performed maintenance work at the facility to increase the site’s resiliency.
"This region holds a special place in CSX's history, as it has been central to CSX operations for nearly two centuries," said CSX President and CEO Joe Hinrichs. "We remain deeply connected to this dynamic community, and we felt it was our duty to support it."