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Port of Baltimore Number One U.S. Port again for Productivity

[ January 6, 2016   //   ]

Journal of Commerce Study Names Port and its Seagirt Marine Terminal Most Efficient in First Half of 2015

An independent analysis conducted by the Journal of Commerce (JOC) recently named the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore and its Seagirt Marine Terminal the most efficient port and container terminal in the country during the first six calendar months of 2015.  The Port of Baltimore and Seagirt Marine Terminal averaged a U.S.-leading 75 container moves per hour per berth — a rate faster than all major American ports.  Earlier this year, the JOC named the Port of Baltimore the most efficient U.S. port in calendar year 2014. The JOC port productivity numbers are compiled by international shipping lines, not by individual ports or marine terminals.

“This recognition marks the end of a great year for the Port of Baltimore and Maryland,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “With the welcoming of the largest container shipping company in the world and celebrating the signing of a new 30-year, long-term contract with its top roll on/roll off customer, the Port of Baltimore proves that Maryland is open for business.”

Earlier this year Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping company, began serving the Port of Baltimore.   Also, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics, the Port’s largest roll on/roll off customer, recently signed a new 30-year contract to continue calling on Maryland.

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, includes 11 cranes, four of which are super Post-Panamax cranes on a 50-foot deep berth capable of reaching 22 containers across a ship.  The Port of Baltimore is one of only two U.S. East Coast ports currently capable of handling some of the largest ships in the world.

Combining both public and private marine terminals, the port had a record year in 2014 with 29.5 million tons of international cargo valued at nearly $53 billion crossing its docks.  Baltimore is ranked as the top port among all U.S. ports for handling autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery, imported forest products, 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 14,630 direct jobs, while about 108,000 jobs in Maryland are linked to Port activities. The Port is responsible for $3 billion in personal wages and salary and more than $300 million in state and local taxes.

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