Page 121 - Rukert - 100th Anniversary
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PART II BRINGING THE WORLD TO BALTIMORE
Administration (MPA). In addition to the 346,000-square-foot pier and surrounding half-acre of property at Pier 1, the purchase also included a dilapidated Pier 2, small boat house and a restaurant. As part of the deal, the MPA received a free 10-year lease of the boathouse to dock its state yacht, the 70-foot Mary Lynn, which it uses for promotional tours of the Port of Baltimore. The Pride of Baltimore II, a replica 19th-century Baltimore Clipper sailing ship, also docks at the boathouse between trips around the world as a goodwill ambassador for
the city and state. And finally, in the agreement, Rukert Terminals granted a free five-year berthing lease at Pier 1 for the S.S. John W. Brown, a World War II Liberty Ship that is open to the public as a floating museum. Rukert Terminals is proud to be the Baltimore home of these vessels that promote historical maritime education and outreach.
The executive team knew that given its
poor condition, Pier 1 was not suitable for cargo operations. In fact, Rukert management purchased the contiguous waterfront terminal in large part to keep it out of the hands of commercial developers. The company planned to maintain Pier 1 as a layberth for Naval vessels, ensuring that it would remain a maritime industrial property.
On September 13, 2014, Rukert Terminals held its annual company picnic during the Star- Spangled Spectacular, Maryland’s commemoration of the War of 1812 bicentennial. During the waterside event at the Lazaretto Terminal, employees and their families were treated to an up-close and thrilling view of the Blue Angels Air Show. Perfect weather and a prime location made it a day to remember!
One Sunday in November 2014, local television station WBAL-TV premiered a documentary sponsored by the Baltimore Port Alliance (BPA). Like Helen Bentley’s television series The Port that
Built a City and State, this program, called Baltimore: Port of Opportunity sought to educate viewers about the port and its role in their daily lives. Rukert Terminals’ Vice President Andy Nixon was instrumental in producing the program. He worked with Helen Bentley to raise $60,000 to fund the project, including advertising and buying airtime. The program featured a segment about Rukert Terminals’ history and current operations, including footage of employees discharging wind turbine blades at Lazaretto and salt at Pier 5. When it aired, Baltimore: Port of Opportunity reached an estimated 20,000 viewers. The video also has over 8,000 views on YouTube.
Like generations before him, especially Norm Sr. and his father Bud, Andy is often involved in projects that foster the growth of the Port of Baltimore. For
ABOVE: Rukert Terminals' Andy Nixon helped fund the Baltimore: Port of Opportunity series on WBAL-TV.
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