Posted on March 24, 2021
DW Exclusive
Second Deep Berth Will Allow Port To Serve Two Ultra-Large Ships Simultaneously
(BALTIMORE, MD) – Governor Larry Hogan on March 24 hailed the project to create a second-deep container berth at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal as critical to Maryland’s economic and job growth. During a visit to the Port, the governor saw firsthand the dredging work underway to create a second 50-foot-deep berth, which will allow the Port to accommodate two ultra-large ships simultaneously. The visit coincided with release of new cargo volume numbers at the Port showing continued strong recovery from lows during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A second-deep berth at the Port, together with the expansion of the Howard Street Tunnel, will increase business, generate thousands of jobs in the Baltimore region and solidify the Port of Baltimore as a critical hub for commerce up and down the East Coast,” said Governor Hogan. “The fact that the Port is already rebounding in a huge way from the economic impacts of COVID-19 is a credit to its workforce and the Port’s reputation in the industry. Having a second-deep berth here will lift our capacity and our potential to another level.”
(Front Row L-R) Brian Miller, deputy executive director Maryland Port Administration, William Doyle, executive director Maryland Port Administration, Harry Tolson, project superintendent Corman Kokosing, Governor Larry Hogan, Greg Slater, Maryland transportation secretary, Charles Glass, director Maryland Environmental Service, Bayard Hogans, vice president Ports America Chesapeake
During his visit, Governor Hogan took a boat ride to a mechanical dredger vessel to view the operation and visit the crew. Dredging for the new 50-foot-deep berth is being conducted by Corman Kokosing of Annapolis Junction, and is expected to be completed this spring. Four additional Neo-Panamax cranes will arrive this summer and will be operational later this year. Seagirt Marine Terminal is operated by Ports America Chesapeake under a 50-year public-private partnership (P3) with the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) signed in 2010.
Koko VI
The added capacity from the second-deep berth accentuates the need for the Howard Street Double Stack Rail Tunnel project in Baltimore, which will expand the 126-year-old tunnel to accommodate double-stacked rail cars moving cargo to and from the Port. The tunnel project is also benefitting from a public-private investment between the federal government, Maryland, CSX and others. Pending completion of a public comment period through March 30 and final National Environmental Policy Act approval, CSX will complete final engineering and permitting, with construction expected late this year.
“The Port of Baltimore has been a critical link in Maryland’s supply chain during the pandemic, and we appreciate Governor Hogan’s visit to recognize its role in the state’s economic recovery,” said MDOT Secretary Greg Slater. “Our dedicated workers and the partnerships we have at the Port and for the Howard Street Tunnel project are forging a clear path for growth in jobs and Maryland’s overall economy.”
Port Executive Director (and New England native!) Bill Doyle told DredgeWire:
“It’s a great day when Governor Larry Hogan and MD Secretary of Transportation Greg Slater can visit the port – New England type weather and all. Governor Hogan arrived early and really enjoyed talking about the port, infrastructure, jobs and ongoing projects. He was a real trooper – it was pouring rain out all day and he didn’t skip a beat. It was quite something seeing the Governor jump into the crane ops control seat. In the Port of Baltimore everything is moving forward including dredging, reconstruction and densification of Seagirt Marine Terminal by Ports America, Chesapeake and the Howard Street Tunnel rail project with CSX that will allow double stacking in and out of the port.”
Maryland’s private sector partner in port development, Ports America, has already committed over $160mm in capital projects to meet the growing opportunities at the Port of Baltimore
Port America Vice President Bayard Hogans spoke to DredgeWire with additional background:
“As we anticipate additional e-commerce growth and numbers to continue to rise at the Port of Baltimore with the expansion of the Howard Street Tunnel, we are committed to investing in expansion solutions. Port America Chesapeake is committed to sustainable growth—and the 50 foot dredging at Seagirt Marine Terminal will enable two ultra-large 14,000 TEU ships to be worked simultaneously—will greatly increase productivity at the Port.”
Dredging is key
Dredging for the new 50-foot-deep berth is being conducted by Corman Kokosing of Annapolis Junction, and is expected to be completed this spring.
Port of Baltimore Traffic 2021 Updates
CARS, LIGHT TRUCKS UP OVER 70% IN FEBRUARY FROM COVID-19 LOWS
As both the berth dredging and tunnel projects advance, the Port’s latest figures from February show cargo and other categories with impressive rebounds from COVID-19 lows last year. Two categories achieved year-over-year gains compared to pre-pandemic numbers in February 2020, with containers up 2.8% and general cargo up 6.2%.
When compared to low points last May and June due to COVID-19 impacts, the February numbers for autos/light trucks were even more significant. The cars and light trucks category saw 30,183 units in February, an increase of 72.8% over a low point in May 2020. Containers, with 48,521 boxes, were up 2.3% against its low point in June, and the general cargo category, which includes all main public terminal commodities – autos/light trucks, containers, forest products and roll on/roll off farm and construction equipment – was up 10.9%.
The Port’s rolled paper business also got a lift in February with the arrival of the first ship under a contract signed last year with major international paper producer Metsa Group of Finland and Logistec Corporation. February rolled paper, with 70,720 tons, was up 102.4% year-over-year from February 2020 The Metsa contract will generate hundreds of jobs and increase its footprint at the Port, utilizing warehousing structures that have been underused or vacant for years. Metsa is bringing more than 370,000 tons of rolled paper to Maryland, used to produce materials such as corrugated cardboard boxes and other e-commerce packaging.
“Through February we continue to see very good trends for our key cargos,” said MDOT MPA Executive Director William P. Doyle. “New car purchases remain strong and our containers continue to perform very well due in large part to our e-commerce advantages that include being located near so many distribution, fulfillment and sorting centers. We also welcomed the first ship under our new Metsa and Logistec contract which will greatly increase our forest product business. Though COVID-19 continues to impact our industry, we are trending in the right direction. I want to thank our entire Port of Baltimore workforce for doing incredible jobs to keep us moving forward.”
“Maryland Environmental Service (MES) is pleased to support MDOT MPA in critical infrastructure projects like the Seagirt Marine Terminal Berth 3 dredging project Governor Hogan visited today,” said Maryland Environmental Service Director, Dr. Charles Glass. “The effective management of this project, along with many others including the Masonville Dredged Material Containment Facility and various efforts associated with maintaining navigational channels, helps ensure the Port of Baltimore is able to continue as an economic driver for the region while promoting the continued health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. These projects have continued despite the COVID pandemic and are critical in the rebound from COVID impacts.”
The Port of Baltimore continues to gain new business and expand its business from existing customers. The Port’s recent volume includes 17 “ad hoc” ship calls from mid-July 2020 through mid-March 2021 totaling more than 28,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) containers. Ad hoc ships are vessels that were diverted to Baltimore that were not on a regularly scheduled service.
The Port of Baltimore generates about 15,300 direct jobs, with nearly 140,000 jobs overall linked to Port activities. The Port ranks first among the nation’s ports for volume of autos and light trucks, roll on/roll off heavy farm and construction machinery, and imported gypsum. It ranks 11th among major U.S. ports for foreign cargo handled and 10th for total foreign cargo value.
The health and safety of the Port of Baltimore workforce is paramount, and the public marine terminals have maintained stringent CDC-recommended health and safety guidelines to ensure the safety of its labor force, tenants and partners. MDOT MPA encourages the use of face coverings and social distancing measures for individuals working at the marine terminals, and encourages teleworking for those able to do so. Temperature screenings and other preventative procedures are also continuing.
