The port of Baltimore is now closed and the economic consequences of this accident could be very serious. Rebuilding the bridge could take years, and the bill could reach half a billion dollars.
The government could turn against the owners of the container ship. But with a Singapore-flagged vessel, managed by one company, but chartered by another, finding the right jurisdiction and responsible party could take time. Baltimore is one of the nation's most important ports. It alone generates 140,000 jobs and no one yet knows when it will be able to reopen.