Journal of Commerce Study Awards Port Special Honor for 2015
The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore was named the most productive port in the U.S. for the third consecutive time by an independent analysis conducted by the Journal of Commerce (JOC) for calendar year 2015. The special recognition was recently announced at the JOC Port Performance North American Conference in Iselin, New Jersey.
The Port of Baltimore averaged a U.S.-leading 71 container moves per hour per berth – a faster rate than all other major American ports. The JOC previously awarded the Port of Baltimore this honor for the first six months of 2015 and the entire year of 2014. The port productivity results are compiled by international shipping lines, not by individual ports or marine terminals.
“This is a tremendous way to end what has been a great year for the Port of Baltimore,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “From the Port welcoming its first big container ship through the newly expanded Panama Canal to signing key shipping customers to contract extensions, the Port continues to be one of Maryland’s leading economic generators and further proof that Maryland is Open for Business."
The JOC’s port productivity rankings factored in elements such as a ships’ arrival time at a berth, the number of container moves per hour at that berth, and a ship’s departure time from that berth. The Seagirt Marine Terminal, the Port of Baltimore’s primary container facility operated under a public-private partnership with Ports America Chesapeake, includes 11 cranes, four of which are Neo-Panamax which are some of the largest cranes in the world. The Port of Baltimore is one of only four U.S. East Coast ports currently capable of handling some of the largest ships in the world.
In addition to welcoming its first big container ship through the new Panama Canal locks, the Port of Baltimore in 2016:
- Signed its top forest-product customer Finland-based UPM to a 10-year contract extension.
- Extended the contracts with both of its cruise lines, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.
- Received a nearly $1 million federal grant to continue reducing air pollutants by upgrading diesel equipment at the Port.
Combining both the public and private marine terminals, the Port of Baltimore saw 32.4 million tons of international cargo cross its docks last year which was valued at approximately $51.1 billion. Baltimore is ranked as the top port among all U.S. ports for handling autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery, imported gypsum, imported sugar, and imported aluminum. Overall Baltimore is ranked ninth for the total dollar value of cargo and 13th for cargo tonnage for all U.S. ports.
Business at the Port of Baltimore generates about 13,650 direct jobs, while more than 127,000 jobs in Maryland are linked to port activities. The Port is responsible for nearly $3 billion in personal wages and salary and $310 million in state and local tax revenues.
Source: Port of Baltimore