Port of Baltimore will begin new roll on/roll off (ro/ro) service to New Zealand and Australia.

 

"As one of Maryland’s leading economic engines, the Port of Baltimore continues to expand its reach around the world," said Governor Larry Hogan. "Our administration will continue to support the Port and the thousands of hardworking Marylanders who make this world-class facility a source of pride for our state."

 

The first sailing will be on the Hoegh Jeddah, which is scheduled to call on the Port of Baltimore on March 14. The Port of Baltimore handles more autos, light trucks and high and heavy farm and construction equipment than any other U.S. port. The Port of Baltimore was recently named the fourth fastest-growing port in North America and has been recognized as one of the most efficient container ports in the U.S. for the past three years.

 

Baltimore’s port is ranked as the top among all U.S. ports for handling autos and light trucks, farm and construction machinery and imported sugar. Overall Baltimore is ranked ninth for the total dollar value of cargo and 14th for cargo tonnage for all U.S. ports.

 

Business at the Port of Baltimore generates about 13,650 direct jobs, while about 127,600 jobs in Maryland are linked to Port activities. The Port is responsible for nearly $3 billion in personal wages and salary and more than $300 million in state and local tax revenues.

 

 

Horizon Terminal Services, LLC is driving more automotive business to Port Everglades with a new long-term lease on 8.67 acres where the company plans to invest $630,000 for a new auto processing facility that would create a minimum of 25 local direct jobs.

 

Horizon is moving to 8.67 acres (a 5.67-acre parcel plus a 3-acre outparcel) with an existing warehouse adjacent to the docks in the Midport section of the port from its 5.73-acre short-term location in the port's Southport area. Relocating to the Midport site provides operational advantages over the Southport site because there is a shorter distance for brand-new vehicles to travel between the ship at berth and terminal yard and a lower potential for the vehicles to be damaged during this transit. 

 

Horizon plans to convert a Port-owned warehouse facility for new vehicle processing at a much lower cost than constructing new facilities to handle a planned increase from 15,000 autos and heavy equipment currently to 40,000-50,000 vehicles annually over the next five years.

 

Carrying two million standard car units annually worldwide, Horizon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Höegh Autoliners (Höegh), and is one of the world's leading "roll on/roll off" vessel operators.  

 

Horizon has imported over 4,300 new General Motors (GM) vehicles from Mexico since operations started at the end of May 2017. These are the first shipments of new imported vehicles to move through the port in many years. Horizon has also exported over 2,000 new Honda vehicles manufactured in the United States, which began arriving at Port Everglades by rail in August 2017. Exports moving through Port Everglades create additional job opportunities and support the US balance of trade. 

 

Additionally, ocean carriers are seeing the benefits of using Port Everglades as a transshipment point for vehicles manufactured in Mexico but destined to South American markets, with almost 400 vehicles being transshipped through Port Everglades in November and December 2017.

 

 

 

Ocean carrier World Direct Shipping today (Friday, January 26) announced plans to begin weekly sailings between the Port of Pensacola and the Port of Coatzacoalcos in Mexico’s state of Veracruz. A second port in the northern region of Mexico’s Gulf Coast will be added to the rotation shortly.  The first sailing from Coatzacoalcos is scheduled to arrive in Pensacola on February 1st.

 

Calling two ports in the state of Veracruz, gives World Direct Shipping access to Mexico City’s great market and industrial areas, which, according to Diaz, should provide more opportunities for more exports through Port of Pensacola from the Southeast US market.

 

The service will be supported by two vessels.  One vessel, the M/V Queen B, is 435 ft long, has capacity for 657 twenty-foot equivalent units(TEU’s), and is owned and operated by World Direct Shipping.  The second vessel, a chartered vessel, is similar sized and will be included in the rotation until World Direct Shipping takes delivery of their second owned vessel in the fourth quarter of 2018.

 

 

 

The Trois-Rivières Port Authority (TRPA) completed the construction of Pier 9 and has completed an agreement with Logistec Stevedoring Inc. to operate the terminal.

 

As Gaétan Boivin, President and CEO of the TRPA, explained, "The construction of Pier 9 represents the completion of the On Course for 2020 modernization plan, which required investments of $ 131.6 million. Pier 9 alone will have cost $ 14.8 million funded by the TRPA ($ 6.3 million), the Government of Quebec ($ 4.8 million) and the Government of Canada ($ 3.6 million)".

 

"Operations at Pier 9 began shortly after the signing of our agreement with the Port of Trois-Rivières for the leasing and operation of the general cargo terminal. This wharf improves the services offered to our clients and we are confident it will help consolidate Logistec's and the Port of Trois-Rivières' leading position in the general cargo sector on the St. Lawrence River," stated Michel Miron, Vice President of Operations at Logistec.