Source: Splash247
Date: 8th September 2026 

A major U.S. Coast Guard review warns that port infrastructure, waterways and risk-management capabilities must adapt as commercial vessels continue to increase in size and complexity.

The continued growth of commercial vessels is increasing pressure on U.S. ports, waterways and critical infrastructure, according to a major review by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The review was launched following the March 2024 incident in Baltimore, when a containership struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse and temporarily closing one of the country’s major ports.

Rather than focusing solely on the Baltimore incident, the inquiry examined the broader risks facing the U.S. marine transportation system as larger vessels and changing traffic patterns interact with infrastructure that was often designed for a different era of shipping.

The assessment covered 11 major port complexes and gathered feedback from all 41 Captain of the Port zones, resulting in 20 recommendations aimed at strengthening port safety and resilience.

Larger vessels, greater infrastructure risk. The findings highlight the range of potential incidents facing major gateways.

Among the 11 port complexes reviewed, bridge allisions were identified as a worst-case scenario at eight locations, while vessel collisions were identified at seven, groundings at six and oil spills at six. Port stakeholders also consistently reported handling larger commercial vessels over the past decade.

Deepwater navigation channels and bridges were among the infrastructure considered most critical to maintaining safe and reliable port operations.

At the same time, the Coast Guard found that existing waterways risk-assessment tools have been underused, potentially leaving ports exposed to risks that have not been fully anticipated as vessel sizes and traffic conditions evolve.

Strengthening port resilience. The review proposes a range of measures to improve preparedness and reduce risk.

Recommendations include updating waterways risk-assessment policies and tools, improving monitoring of marine transportation system risks and strengthening the workforce responsible for managing them. Other proposed measures include greater tug and escort capability for high-risk vessels, enhanced pilot simulation and training, improved vessel traffic services and stronger protection for vulnerable infrastructure.

The findings do not represent completed reforms. The Coast Guard is collecting stakeholder feedback until February 28, 2027, before determining its response to the recommendations. A Final Action Memorandum is expected in August 2027.

What This Means

• For cargo owners, port infrastructure resilience is more than a safety issue.
• An incident affecting a navigation channel, bridge or other critical port infrastructure can quickly translate into port closures, vessel diversions, cargo delays and disruption to inland transportation connections.
• As vessels become larger, the concentration of cargo aboard individual ships can also increase the supply-chain consequences when access to a major gateway is interrupted.

The evolution of global shipping requires the infrastructure supporting it to evolve as well.

Larger vessels have delivered significant economies of scale, but they also place different demands on waterways, bridges, tug capabilities, navigation systems and emergency-response resources.

For resilient supply chains, investment therefore cannot focus only on larger terminals and greater cargo-handling capacity. Safe navigation, infrastructure protection, risk assessment and contingency planning are equally important to maintaining reliable cargo flows.

The U.S. review reinforces a broader lesson for global trade: as ships grow and cargo becomes increasingly concentrated, the resilience of the infrastructure connecting those vessels to the supply chain becomes even more critical.