James T Smith News

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) became the Port of Baltimore newest auto customer after agreeing to a five -year contract with auto processor Amports that will bring approximately 65,000 vehicles a year to Maryland from its assembly plants in Japan. The vehicles will be handled at the Amports-owned Chesapeake Auto Terminal. The addition of Mazda will help to create 450 new jobs, including 160 direct jobs. “We are very happy to welcome Mazda to the Port of Baltimore,” said Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, convened the Subcommittee at the Ceremonial Courtroom at the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore to examine the proposed development of a liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal at Sparrow's Point in the Port of Baltimore. Witnesses included Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Governor Martin O'Malley, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, as well as representatives of the United States Coast Guard, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the AES Sparrow's Point project, as well as two residents of the Sparrow's Point neighborhood. Following the hearing, Chairman Cummings released the following statement.

EDO Corporation received a contract from the Israeli Navy to purchase its advanced-technology ALOFTS undersea-warfare sensor. ALOFTS was selected based upon the Israeli Navy's past experience with EDO's sonar systems and after a thorough review of ALOFTS' specifications and capabilities. The contract is valued at more than $7 million, plus options for additional systems. The EDO Model 980 ALOFTS system is a low-frequency, active, towed-array system that represents the latest, most advanced sonar technology. It provides a long-range sensor capability that will counter the threat of extremely quiet submarines operating in either shallow or deep water.