Massachusetts Port Authority News

The New Bedford Port Authority (NBPA) has named Gordon Carr as the next Executive Director of the Massachusetts seaport.Carr, who current serves as Deputy Director of Real Estate Strategy and Policy at the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), has more than 25 years of experience in the public and private sectors in the areas of public policy, economic development, and enterprise strategy, including on projects related to the City. As an independent consultant in 2014-15, Carr…

On Saturday, November 2nd, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) received two new rubber-tired gantries (RTGs), increasing the number of RTGs at the Paul W. Conley Container Terminal to 16. Adding equipment is part of an $850 million investment to keep Conley Terminal competitive and efficient with truck turntimes averaging under 35 minutes. Another two RTGs were also delivered back in May. The Port of Boston contributes over $8 billion to the regional economy and supports more than 9,000 direct jobs.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced another record year for the Port of Boston’s Paul W. Conley Container Terminal.From July 2018 through June 2019, Conley handled 307,331 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) – an 8% increase in cargo volumes over FY2018 and a new all-time record for the fifth consecutive year. Total imports also rose by 12% over FY18 to 152,960 TEUs in advance of pending tariffs.“We are proud of Conley’s continued growth and success, which reflect the region’s strong economy and Conley’s high levels of productivity,” said Acting Port Director Mike Meyran.“For FY2020, we will continue to make smart infrastructure…

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) picked its port director, Lisa Wieland, to be its next Chief Executive Officer(CEO), bypassing the other finalist, a member of the city's power elite, for one of the most influential public-sector jobs in the state.Board of Directors voted to offer Wieland the position of CEO and Executive Director for a five-year term. Contract negotiations will occur at a later date.The search firm Isaacson, Miller sought a diverse candidate pool for the position and more than 100 applications were received. Members of the Board’s Preliminary Screening Committee interviewed 10 semifinalists, of which five were women and three were people of color.

A new report from the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) shows the Port of Boston contributed $8.2 billion in economic activity in 2018, up from $4.6 billion in 2012.Smart investments and partnerships have led to growth in jobs, business revenues, and tax contributions, it said.“The finding that the Port of Boston contributed $8 billion in just one year to the regional economy underscores the important role transportation infrastructure plays in the vitality of an area,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack.“The Baker-Polito Administration has been and will continue to make strategic capital investments in transportation infrastructure in order to create jobs…

The Massachusetts Port Authority announced that $35 million has been secured to help fund the ongoing Boston Harbor Dredging Project. The project is approximately 30 percent complete, and this funding will enable the project to continue on schedule.The project is a $350 million partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Massport. The maintenance dredging of the inner harbor was completed in December of 2017. The deepening of the main ship channels began in July 2018 to accommodate the large container vessels calling today and in the future.

Three New England projects have been awarded nearly two million dollars under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) competitive national grant competition to reduce diesel emissions. The grants, totaling $1,975,000, were made under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). The funding will assist the Connecticut Maritime Foundation, the Massachusetts Port Authority and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in marine vessel repowering and vehicle replacement projects. Diesel engines contribute significantly to air pollution, especially in urban areas. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including aggravated asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Children are especially vulnerable to these effects.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the appointment of 29 new members to the Marine Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC). Established in 2010, MTSNAC is comprised of leaders from commercial transportation firms, ship construction, repair and recycling, trade associations, state and local public entities, labor organizations, academics, and environmental groups that advise the Secretary and the Maritime Administration on policies to ensure that the U.S. Marine Transportation System is capable of responding to projected trade increases. The Committee advises the Secretary on solutions to impediments hindering effective use of short sea transportation and other matters as the Secretary determines.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced 18 proposed grant awards for projects under the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects Program. The program, also known as the Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grants, is a new competitive grant program established under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to provide funding for nationally significant highway, bridge, and freight projects. The FASTLANE program requires DOT to notify the House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee at least 60 days before a grant is awarded for a project.

The Boston Harbor Cruises' Majesty ran aground in Boston Harbor on Saturday. All 137 passengers were unharmed and transferred to the Asteria, another Boston Harbor Cruises vessel, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. One couple's wedding reception was going aboard as the boat turned into disaster when their vessel ran aground. New husband Jamie Stern  said the guests were just finishing dinner around 7 pm when the celebration came to a halt as the ship neared Georges Island. The 113-foot Boston Harbor Cruises ship will be inspected by Coast Guard marine inspectors and investigation officers. The ship did not appear to have been damaged Saturday when it ran aground near Georges Island about 7 p.m., the Coast Guard said.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Board today voted to approve to execute a Project Partnering Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and MassDOT to start the Boston Harbor Dredging Project. A signed agreement allows the ACOE to bid contracts for construction on a Confined Aquatic Disposal cell (CAD cell), which is needed for the maintenance dredging of the Inner Harbor Main Ship Channel. Maintenance dredging will restore the inner harbor to 40 feet and is the first phase of the larger dredging project. Without maintenance dredging, the harbor will continue to silt, leading to increased transit times, economic inefficiencies, and navigational safety concerns.

With Friday’s Bermuda sailing of the Norwegian Dawn, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) launches the 2013 cruise season at Cruiseport Boston’s Black Falcon Terminal in South Boston. New this year, Massport is offering travelers free wireless Internet access at the cruise terminal to meet traveler’s expectations to be mobile enabled. More than 80% of vacation travelers bring at least one device, such as a smartphone, e-reader or laptop with them on vacation and 65 percent of travelers have used free wifi in an accommodations lobby or common area, according to a national electronics retailer. Cruiseport Boston’s free wifi service is supported by advertising and sponsorship programs.

Port of Boston is Vital Economic Engine and Job Generator for Region. The Port of Boston generated $4.6 billion in 2012 and more than 50,000 jobs are supported by the port, including more than 7,000 direct jobs, according to a report released by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). This economic impact and the jobs created by the working seaport help to keep Boston competitive among other U.S. East Coast ports. Operation of the maritime terminals ensures that the more cost-efficient waterborne cargo lands in Boston rather than other ports like New York/New Jersey or Baltimore…

The containership Hanjin Milano made its maiden call at Conley Terminal Friday, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced. This is the first time that Hanjin Shipping has called the Port of Boston directly, opening a new channel of economic impact for the region. “The Port of Boston is the waterborne trade gateway for New England and a primary economic engine for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” said Thomas P. Glynn, Massport CEO. “As we work to dredge the harbor, the addition of new ships and new lines demonstrates that New England continues to be a strong market.

Passport Systems, Inc. has began construction on a non-intrusive, cargo inspection facility at the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), Port of Boston, Conley Container Terminal in South Boston which is designed to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of cargo screening at the Port. Passport Systems' SmartScan 3D automated cargo inspection system can detect, locate and identify contraband at ports and border crossings around the globe as well as automatically clear or confirm alarms. Dr. Robert J.

As part of the new service linking North Asia and the U. S. East Coast (NUE2), Evergreen Line's containership Ital Lunare will make the first ever direct call into the Port of Boston for the ocean carrier on August 20 as part of the CKYH partner agreement. The weekly service also calls at the U. S. ports of New York, Norfolk and travels through the Panama Canal making calls at the Asian ports of Qingdao, Shanghai and Ningbo. The Evergreen Line ship has a 5,086-TEU capacity and was built in 2007. The vessel is part of Evergreen Line's worldwide fleet and sailed for Evergreen Line's sister company, Italia Marittima, in its earlier days.

Evergreen Line’s ItalLunare celebrated its maiden call to the Port of Boston with an official first call and plaque presentation on Wednesday, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced. This is the first time Evergreen Line has called Boston directly in nearly 30 years. “The ItalLunare was bringing more than just cargo when she arrived at Conley Terminal this week,” said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. Evergreen, the fourth largest container shipping line in the world by capacity…

Deborah Hadden has been appointed Port Director by Thomas P. Glynn, CEO of the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). In her new role, Hadden will be responsible for directing the planning, development, marketing, operation, security, financial management, administration and maintenance of Massport’s non-aviation properties in the Port of Boston. Hadden had been Acting Port Director since October, 2012, and was instrumental in achieving many successes in directing the Port of Boston in the last 10 months.

Ithaca, N.Y. – Mariners along the U.S. east coast can now download a new iPad and iPhone application which warns them when they enter areas of high risk of collision with critically endangered North Atlantic right whales. The free Whale Alert app provides one source for information about right whale management measures and the latest data about right whale detections, all overlaid on NOAA digital charts. “Whale Alert represents an innovative collaboration to protect this critically endangered species,” said David Wiley, NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary research coordinator and project lead. A key feature of Whale Alert is a display linking near real-time acoustic buoys…

Maritime security and law enforcement experts are gathering in Boston this week to better understand maritime domain awareness and the challenges of port, waterway and coastal security, environmental protection, safety and law enforcement. One big lesson learned is that everything is just a little more challenging on the water. A number of law enforcement agencies from the New England area are attending and participating that have specific duties and functions associated with the maritime environment…

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) gives Deborah Hadden responsibility to oversee its maritime facilities. Deborah A. “Deb” Hadden, Deputy Port Director of Properties and Transportation has assumed the position of Acting Port Director where she now oversees all aspects of Massport’s Maritime Department. In her new role Hadden is responsible for the management and promotion of Massport’s maritime facilities, and other interests in the Port of Boston including strategies for the development, marketing, operation and maintenance of Conley Container Terminal and Cruiseport Boston.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $333,185 to the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) to help retrofit five rubber tired gantry cranes with new diesel engines that will reduce air pollution. The cranes are used to load drayage trucks at the Conley shipping terminal in Boston and reposition containers within the yard. The funding, made possible under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), is part of nearly $28 million in grant funds being awarded by EPA nationwide for clean diesel projects in 2015, and is the only project in New England to be selected for DERA funding this year. The grant will allow Massport to replace five older, Tier III diesel engines with current EPA Tier-4F certified diesel engines.

Maersk Line, the world's largest container shipping line, resumed operations at the Port of Boston’s Conley Container Terminal with the arrival of the Sealand Illinois on Thursday, the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced. Maersk, which last operated out of Boston in 2000, is the seventh major global container line currently servicing the city's port. Boston will be the second U.S. port of call after New York on Maersk Line’s TA5 service, part of their East-West Network.