Port of Baltimore handles record US$51 billion worth of cargo in 2011

THE Port of Baltimore handled 37.8 million tonnes of cargo last year, an increase of 15 per cent from the 32.8 million tonnes of freight that passed through the facility the previous year.

The total cargo handled by the port was worth US$51.4 billion, the highest ever and a 24 per cent jump from 2010. Export cargo accounted for a record 24 million tonnes, about 40 per cent of Baltimore's cargo.

James White, Maryland Port Authority (MPA) executive director, is enthusiastic about the Port of Baltimore, pointing out that last year's figures were better than any major US seaport. "We're coming off a great year," he said, stating that the 60 (imports), 40 (exports) percentage as being better than many major East Coast seaports.

Furthermore, the MPA announced that the port experienced a record first half in 2012, with 4.8 million tonnes of general cargo handled in the six month period, topping the previous record of 4.7 million tonnes set during the pre-recession first half of 2008. This new record is also a 10 per cent up from the first six months of 2011 when the port handled 4.4 million tonnes of cargo.

Baltimore is ranked as the top port among 360 US ports for handling farm and construction machinery, autos and light trucks, imported forest products, imported sugar, imported iron and ore and imported gypsum. The port also ranks second in the United States for exported coal, imported salt, and imported aluminium, according to the American Journal of Transport.

The port also benefits from the strength of its steamship line customers. Hapag-Lloyd commenced new container shipping service to Baltimore in the first quarter 2012, while MSC calls on the port with five ships a week servicing five trade lanes and is its largest shipping line customer.

"They will probably break 200,000 containers this year," Mr White said. "This would be a first for MSC and for us."

Right behind MSC is Evergreen, which Mr White expects will handle 120,000 containers this year through Seagirt Marine Terminal, the port's primary container facility. The service, which comes from the Far East via the Panama Canal, is currently limited by vessel size, but he anticipates great growth from them as well.

"Evergreen has told us that once the Panama Canal expansion project is completed, it is planning to put a vessel capable of carrying 8,000 containers on that run," Mr White said. "Today we have about a 3,800-TEU ship."

Seagirt is operated by Ports America Chesapeake, with whom the MPA signed a 50-year lease in 2010. In June, the facility saw the arrival of four massive container cranes ready for instalment on its newly constructed 50-foot container berth. The super-post Panamax cranes are capable of reaching 22 containers across on a container ship and lifting 187,300 pounds of cargo.