Freight News, Sea

Port of Baltimore Welcomes 1st “Big Ship”

[ July 21, 2016   //   Gary G Burrows ]

State officials welcomed the Evergreen Ever Lambent carrying approximately 8,400 TEUs on July 19 as the first container ship to arrive at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore through the newly expanded Panama Canal.
“The arrival of the Evergreen Ever Lambent at the Port of Baltimore is a signal that the Port of Baltimore is the dominant force in container shipping,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “With only three other East Coast ports able to handle ships of this size, we look forward to the arrival of many more megaships as we continue to grow cargo opportunities at the Port and create jobs for Maryland.”
The Maryland Port Administration entered into a public-private partnership with Ports America Chesapeake in 2010.  Under that agreement, Ports America Chesapeake agreed to construct a 50-foot deep berth and install four Super Post-Panamax cranes.  Both of those elements, in addition to the 50-foot deep channel that the Port of Baltimore has had since 1990, are necessary in order to handle some of the world’s largest ships.
With the completed expansion of the Panama Canal, it is expected that larger ships will travel to East Coast ports that have the required infrastructure to handle them instead of West Coast ports.  Using an East Coast port like the Port of Baltimore is a more efficient and cost-effective option that using a West Coast port which would then require the manufacturer to send their products by rail to markets throughout the country.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger are joined by Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn and MPA Executive Director Jim White as they present a proclamation from MD Gov. Larry Hogan to Evergreen Marine Corp. recognizing the first big container ship to arrive at the Port of Baltimore through the newly expanded Panama Canal. (Photo by Bill McAllen)

Tags: Port of Baltimore