Authorities announced Tuesday afternoon that efforts had shifted from a search and rescue operation to a recovery operation. The mayor also acknowledged the work ahead to reopen the Port of Baltimore, a major hub for vehicles, containers and commodities which has suspended vessel traffic was suspended until further notice following the bridge collapse. 

But, he said, his concentration remains on the recovery efforts. “We're all, right now, still focused on recovery. That's what we're talking about today — recovering those who we lost,” he said. 

 Emergency vehicles are parked near the scene of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 27. Mike Segar/Reuters  

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says divers are dealing with a “treacherous situation” as they continue search and recovery efforts for six unaccounted people in the Francis Key Scott Bridge collapse, he told CBS News Wednesday morning.

Moore spoke to families of missing construction workers saying “these were fathers, and these were sons, and these were husbands, and these were people who their families relied on and so we let them know the state would be there for them,” he told CBS.

The governor pledged his commitment to the families in search and recovery efforts, saying he's confident officials are only looking for six unaccounted for individuals.

Moore stressed the economic impact the collapse will have, saying the port indirectly employs over 100,000 people and imports 51 million tons of foreign cargo, more cars, trucks, agricultural equipment than any other port in this country, he said.Maryland governor says there's no timeline for when channel will reopen as he stresses economic impact of port

Maryland governor says there's no timeline for when channel will reopen as he stresses economic impact of port 

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, center, addresses a press conference at the scene of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26. Shawn Thew/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore told CNN on Wednesday that there currently is no specific timeline for when ships may be able to move in and out of the channel into the Port of Baltimore after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, but that it is a priority.

The bridge collapse is currently blocking a key channel into the busy port and impacting thousands of workers. Moore said that approximately 15,000 workers are directly impacted and about 140,000 workers are indirectly impacted.

Moore also noted that Baltimore is a top 10 port overall for the country. He said there are people who will be impacted all over the country as the port remains closed, from the farmer a Kentucky to an auto dealer in Michigan.

Pressed again on when ships will be able to move in and out of the port, Moore responded, "We're prioritizing and focusing on how we (are) coordinating efforts. I mean, it's the reason that, that I've been on the ground marshaling the resources and marshaling and the efforts and and why we're going to stay here, to be able to make sure that we can get this thing open and get things going again."