Page 9 - Port of Baltimore Sept/Oct 2011

To subscribe or renew, visitwww.marylandports.com September/October 2011 ■ The Port of Baltimore [7]
governor’s Message
Improvements in Cargo and Cruise
As we continue to rebound from one of the worst economic
periods in our nation’s history, the Port of Baltimore has
achieved some significant progress in both our cargo and
cruise businesses.
We recently learned that out of all U.S. ports, Baltimore had
jumped to 11th for the total dollar value of cargo and 13th for the
amount of cargo tonnage handled as a result of our performance
in 2010. In 2009, those numbers were 12th and 15th, respectfully.
Among individual commodities, the Port of Baltimore soared
to number one for trucks (ranked second in 2009), imported salt
(sixth in 2009), and imported iron ore (second in 2009). Baltimore
was also able to maintain market share and remain the number one
port in the nation for handling Roll-On/Roll-Off cargo (farm and con-
struction machinery), imported forest products, imported gypsum
and imported sugar. The Port moved up from third to second for
exported coal and imported aluminum.
This positive trend has continued into 2011. During the first six
months of this year, Baltimore handled more auto tonnage than any
other U.S. port, including New York, which handled the most cars
in 2010 when Baltimore finished second. More than 538,000 tons
of autos made their way over Baltimore’s public and private marine
terminals, a 15 percent increase over the same time period of 2010.
Overall, general cargo at our public and private terminals during
the first half of 2011 was up 13 percent while the total amount of
foreign commerce was up 12 percent. The total dollar value of cargo
saw a 24 percent increase.
Our cruise business has also witnessed some favorable gains.
Last year, Baltimore had the fifth-highest amount of cruise passen-
gers among East Coast ports, which was one slot higher than in
2009. Nationally, the port ranked 12th, up from 14th in 2009. This
year, we have a record 112 cruises sailing from Baltimore and we
will surpass last year’s record for passengers.
The positive advances made in both our cargo and cruise
businesses is very good news for the 16,700 direct jobs at the Port of
Baltimore. More business means more work hours for our longshore
men and women. And that’s something we can all celebrate.
James J. White, Executive Director
Providing Jobs for Today and Tomorrow
Creating and saving jobs is one of the main goals of the
O’Malley-Brown administration. We are achieving that goal
in many ways, from record investments in public education
and school construction to our InvestMaryland initiative,
which supports seed and early-stage companies. We are also
upgrading our roads, bridges and hospitals, targeting job creation
tax credits, using solar energy and wind power to create green jobs,
strengthening women- and minority-owned businesses, and cutting
red tape for businesses to expedite the state permit review process.
Another important way we’re helping Maryland create jobs is
through public-private partnerships like the one that exists between
the Maryland Port Administration and Ports America Chesapeake. Last
year, these two entities signed a 50-year agreement that allows Ports
America to operate the Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal.
A key element of that agreement was that Ports America would
construct a 50-foot container berth that would allow the Port to
accommodate some of the largest cargo ships in the world and
attract more business. Construction of the project is on schedule
and will be completed in August 2012, less than one year away.
When it’s complete, Baltimore will be one of only two East Coast
ports able to handle these supersized container ships.
This $105 million project is about more than shipping. It’s about
jobs, specifically about 5,700 new jobs. That includes 3,000 one-time
construction jobs related to the building of the 50-foot berth and
for the construction of Maryland highway projects that benefit from
this agreement. The remaining 2,700 jobs are direct, indirect, and
induced positions that will come as a result of the increased and
sustained container business that the Port will see upon completion
of the Panama Canal expansion project in 2014.
As an added bonus, this unique public-private partnership
requires that Ports America assume the costs of necessary
infrastructure improvements at Seagirt, saving Maryland hundreds
of millions of dollars. Ports America is also making annual payments
to Maryland and ongoing revenues to the Port Administration.
The Port of Baltimore is one of Maryland’s major economic
generators. It employs about 16,700 people, providing good-paying,
family-supporting, blue collar jobs. Now, it is part of one of the
most creative and innovative public-private maritime agreements
in history. It is an agreement that will not only sustain and grow the
Port of Baltimore for years to come, but one that will create and
support jobs in these challenging economic times.
Martin O’Malley, Governor
executive View