AmCham unfazed by Baltimore bridge collapse

MANILA, Philippines — The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (AmCham) said the closure of the Baltimore Port would have no negative impact on the operations of American firms in the country.

AmCham executive director Ebb Hinchliffe on Monday said they foresee no disruption in their members’ Philippine operations whatsoever despite the shutdown of the port, which is considered as the 17th largest port in the United States.

“I don’t think so. There’s not that much traffic going from the east coast to that corridor to here (Philippines),” Hinchliffe told reporters when asked during a chance interview in Makati.

The Baltimore bridge in Maryland collapsed on March 26 after being struck by a cargo ship.

READ: Major Baltimore bridge collapses after ship collision

Maryland Governor Wes Moors said in a televised interview that the port could realistically be fully reopened by the end of May.

Disruption in the Red Sea

Meanwhile, the AmCham official said that the situation in the Middle East, including the disruption in the Red Sea, would have a much more pronounced impact on the operations of their member companies in the Philippines.

“That is where all the ships are getting diverted (away) from the Red Sea and [it’s] taking two or three extra weeks to get here,” he said.

READ: Factbox: Companies react to Baltimore bridge collapse

Earlier in January, the United States vowed retaliation on the Houthis who are attacking commercial vessels passing through the commercial sea lane where an estimated 12 percent of global trade passes through.

The Iran-back armed group had said they would continue the attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea until Israel stops its offensive against the Hamas in Gaza.