(NEWSnet/AP) — The collapse of  Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has caused diversion of shipping and trucking, creating delays and increasing expense.

After container ship Dali hit the bridge Tuesday, ship traffic entering and leaving Port of Baltimore was suspended indefinitely.

That will require rerouting vessels or their cargo to other ports, potentially causing congestion and delays for importers, said Judah Levine, head of research for Freightos.

Dali was the only container vessel in the port at the time of the collision, but seven others were scheduled to arrive in Baltimore through Saturday, Levine said. Six people, part of a crew that had been filling potholes on the bridge, remained missing for hours after the collapse.

“Aside from the obvious tragedy, this incident will have significant and long-lasting impacts on the region,” said Jessica Gail, spokesperson for American Trucking Associations.

Gail noted that 1.3 million trucks cross the bridge annually, about 3,600 per day. Trucks that carry hazardous materials make a 30-mile detour around Baltimore, because they are prohibited from using the city’s tunnels, she said, adding to delay and increasing fuel expense.

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