Cargo ships critical for supporting US military trapped in Baltimore

Nearly a dozen ships are reportedly stuck at the Port of Baltimore behind the wreckage of the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Four of the ships stuck are part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force, which is used to support U.S. military operations overseas.

The U.S. ships that are stuck at the port would not be able to assist if they were called up currently. A Naval expert told the Baltimore Sun that if a conflict like the Gulf War were to occur now, the U.S. military would need to call commercial vessels to assist.

The Ready Reserve vessels behind the wreckage are used to deliver vital cargo to U.S. forces abroad. Two of the ships stuck at the port are also among the fastest cargo ships in the world, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. The other two ships are undergoing repairs, and even if the port were open, one ship may still be in a “reduced readiness state.”

There are currently 48 ships in the Ready Reserve Force, stationed around the United States. The vessels have to be ready within 5-10 days of a call overseas.

However, as the ships age and are sold or repurposed, there are efforts underway to revamp the Ready Reserve Force. A U.S. Maritime Administration official told the Baltimore Sun that he expects new vessels in the fleet soon. He said that there will be 53 ships in the force eventually.

The Ready Reserve Force has not been used much since Desert Storm operations. The vessels reportedly require a lot of individuals and are expensive to operate.

When it comes to the Port of Baltimore, some channels have temporarily reopened but are too small for big ships to pass through. The ships currently stuck will have to wait until more debris is cleared to navigate the Patapsco River.

Storm conditions have delayed cleanup and recovery efforts. Divers searching for the bodies of victims reported the murky water made it difficult to see, and operations had to be halted temporarily.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said that the Port of Baltimore should have temporary one-way navigation capabilities by the end of April. By the end of May, USACE officials said that they expect the port’s channel to be completely reopened.

The ships stuck are carrying items ranging from oil to vehicles.