Page 32 - Port of Baltimore Magazine January/February 2016

HONOR FOR PORT
“The Port continues to be one of Maryland’s leading economic generators and further proof that Maryland is open for business.”
— Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan
North America. This wouldn’t be possible without their cooperation, hard work and dedication. We look forward to expanding our Seagirt services and attracting new freight to the Baltimore region.”
Overall, Baltimore is ranked ninth for the total dollar value of cargo and 13th for cargo tonnage for all U.S. ports.
“This is a tremendous way to end
what has been a great year for the Port of Baltimore,” said Maryland Gov. 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.”
Future Improvements
The state is looking to boost business at the Port even more by making infrastructure improvements to the Howard Street Tunnel. To help achieve this goal, Gov. Hogan, the MPA and CSX Corp. officials are seeking federal funds to help improve the tunnel
so double-stacked container trains — two shipping containers stacked on top of each other — can travel to and from the Port.
Height restrictions within CSX’s Howard Street Tunnel currently prevent the shipment of double-stacked intermodal containers by rail to and from the Port. This limitation puts Baltimore at a competitive disadvantage, since other major East Coast ports have double-stack rail capacity.
For many years, the cost to reconstruct the Howard Street tunnel to accommodate double-stack intermodal trains was estimated at $1 billion to $3 billion. There were also overriding concerns about disruption to the surrounding communities during construction.
More recently, CSX and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT)
have determined that new construction techniques would bring the price tag down
to approximately $425 million, with a minimal impact to the community. One of these new techniques involves lowering the tunnel floor and notching the crown of the tunnel.
CSX and the state have already committed a combined minimum of $270 million toward this potential project, and Gov. Hogan is seeking
[30] The Port of Baltimore ■
January/February 2017
In addition to welcoming its first big container ship to pass through the new Panama Canal locks, other notable achievements for the Port in 2016 were:
Signing its top forest-product customer Finland-based UPM to a 10-year contract extension.
Extending the contracts with both of its cruise lines, Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International.
Receiving almost $1 million in federal funds to continue the reduction of air pollutants by upgrading diesel equipment at the Port.
Combining both the public and private marine terminals, the Port had 31.8 million tons of international cargo, valued at approximately $49.9 billion, cross its docks last year. Baltimore also ranked among
all U.S. ports for handling autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery and imported gypsum, sugar and aluminum.
“The Port of Baltimore is very deserving of this award,” said Bayard Hogans, General Manager, Ports America Chesapeake. “Ports America Chesapeake’s relationship with the Maryland Port Administration, the ILA and port partners together make Seagirt Marine Terminal the most productive terminal in