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Port Administration News

27 Mar 2024

Baltimore Bridge Port Blockade Won't Trigger New Supply Chain Crisis, Experts Say

Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies.

The catastrophic bridge collapse that closed the Port of Baltimore to ship traffic is unlikely to trigger a major new U.S. supply chain crisis or spike goods prices, due to ample and growing spare capacity at competing East Coast ports, economists and logistics experts say.With six people still missing after a container ship collision destroyed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, it remained unclear how long the span's twisted superstructure would block the harbor's mouth.But port officials…

26 Mar 2024

Automakers Reroute Shipments After Baltimore Bridge Collapse

© aerial-drone / Adobe Stock

U.S. automakers General Motors and Ford will reroute affected shipments after a bridge collapse in the U.S. shuttered the Port of Baltimore, but the companies said on Tuesday the impact will be minimal."We expect the situation to have minimal impact to our operations. We are working to re-route any vehicle shipments to other ports," GM said in a statement.The Port of Baltimore is the busiest U.S. port for car shipments, handling at least 750,000 vehicles in 2023, according to data from the Maryland Port Administration.

03 Jan 2024

Jonathan Daniels to Lead Port of Baltimore

Jonathan Daniels (Photo: Maryland Department of Transportation)

Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld has announced Jonathan Daniels as the new executive director of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Maryland Port Administration. Daniels comes to Maryland after serving as chief executive officer and director at Port Everglades in Broward County, Fla., and has more than 30 years of port and economic development experience.Daniels will begin in his new position February 5, taking over from Brian Miller, who has been serving…

22 Jun 2023

Drought-hit Panama Canal Further Restricts Maximum Ship Depth

(Photo: Panama Canal Authority)

The Panama Canal will expand restrictions on the largest ships crossing the waterway, one of the world's busiest trade passages, the canal authority's administrator said on Wednesday, citing shallower waters due to drought.The measure follows a series of depth restrictions in the 50-mile (80 km) canal since the beginning of the year due to a drought, which authorities had hoped would ease by the start of the Central American country's rainy season.Ship traffic, including container ships and oil tankers, using the canal between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean accounts for about 3.5% of glo

20 Jun 2023

Doyle Returns to Lead Dredging Contractors of America

William P. Doyle (File photo: Maryland Port Administration)

The Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) announced William P. Doyle will return to lead the trade association as chief executive officer and executive director.Doyle, a well-known figure in the U.S. maritime industry, most recently served nearly three years as the executive director of Maryland Port Administration, overseeing the six state-owned marine terminals at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. He resigned from the position on June 16.Doyle previously served as CEO for the DCA, and two terms as a U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner, twice unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

15 Sep 2022

Army Corps, Maryland DOT to Commence $4 Billion Chesapeake Bay Restoration Project

(Photo: USACE Baltimore)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) signed a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) for the $4 billion Mid-Chesapeake Bay ecosystem restoration project at MDOT Headquarters, August 23, 2022.The PPA – signed by Col. Estee Pinchasin, Baltimore District commander, and MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. – outlines the roles, responsibilities, and financial obligations for both partners for the restoration of both James and Barren islands in Dorchester County…

18 Apr 2022

Ever Forward Refloated Near Baltimore

(Photo: Breanna Centeno / U.S. Coast Guard)

The containership Ever Forward has been refloated after more than a month aground in the Chesapeake Bay, near the Port of Baltimore. The Hong Kong-registered vessel was freed around 7 a.m. on Sunday after running aground on March 13 while en route from Baltimore to Norfolk, Va.Salvors removed a portion of the nearly 5,000 containers on board to reduce groundforce following two failed attempts to dredge around and tow out the 1,095-foot-long containership on March 29 and 30. The ship…

09 Dec 2021

Seattle, Tacoma Ports Plan to Phase Out Maritime Emissions

(Photo: Port of Seattle)

The ports of Seattle, Tacoma and the combined container operations of The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) have adopted near-term implementation plans that guide emission reduction efforts for seaport-related activities.The Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy covers six sectors of port activity: oceangoing vessels, cargo-handling equipment, trucks, harbor vessels, rail and port administration and tenant facilities. The recently adopted implementation plans direct changes in equipment…

14 Jun 2021

Maryland Port Administration, Port of Baltimore Joins CDMCS

Left to right: MD Secretary of Transportation Gregory Slater, MD Governor Larry Hogan, and MPA-Port of Baltimore Executive Director William Doyle observe dredging operations at Seagirt Marine Terminal for a new 50-ft. berth in March 2021. (Photo: Maryland Port Administration)

The Maryland Port Administration (MPA), Port of Baltimore, officially joined the Council for Dredging and Marine Construction Safety (CDMCS), a national unified safety voice for the dredging and marine construction industry.The Port of Baltimore is one of the busiest seaports in the United States, handling every type of cargo at its public and private terminals. Currently, Baltimore is in the execution phase of more than $200 million in marine construction, dredging and infrastructure upgrades at Seagirt, Dundalk and Locust Point Marine Terminals.

12 Feb 2021

Port of Baltimore Bests Its Container Moves Record

Maersk Edinburgh at Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal, Ports America, Chesapeake, February 9, 2021.  Photo courtesy of Maryland Port Administration.

The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore reports it has again topped its record for most container moves from a single ship.The 6,000 container moves conducted by longshore workers from the Maersk Edinburgh at the Seagirt Marine Terminal this week are the most ever in the port's the 315-year history. Maersk Edinburgh arrived at the port on Monday, February 8, and left early Thursday, February 11. The final container move was completed at 9:40 p.m. Wednesday.The new high mark—which counts the number of times an imported container is unloaded from a ship…

29 Jan 2021

Maryland Dredging Project Benefits the Environment and Economy

(Photo: The Maryland Port Administration)

The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are marking a milestone of environmental stewardship this month on the landmark restoration of Poplar Island near Talbot County. Simultaneously, the agencies are advancing plans for their next partnership using dredged materials to preserve and protect Maryland’s waterways: the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island Ecosystem Restoration.Since 1998, Poplar Island has…

19 Aug 2020

Port of Baltimore Sets Cargo Moves Record

(Photo: MDOT Maryland Port Administration—Port of Baltimore)

The Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal topped its record for most container moves from a single ship.The 5,536 container moves conducted by longshore workers handling the Maersk Edinburgh over three days was the largest number of moves for a single ship in the port’s 314-year history, surging past the previous record of 5,181 moves set last year.“This record container activity is a significant milestone for the Port of Baltimore and a sign that the maritime shipping industry is coming back and fueling Maryland’s economic recovery,” said Governor Larry Hogan.

13 Jul 2020

Sickles Named Interim Head of Dredging Contractors of America

Mark D. Sickles

Former Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) executive director and Weeks Marine’s corporate and government relations director Mark D. Sickles will serve as Interim CEO and executive director as the organization searches for new staff leadership to succeed outgoing DCA head William P. Doyle, who has been appointed to lead the Maryland Port Administration, and Executive Director of the Port of Baltimore.Sickles was unanimously approved by the DCA board of directors and general membership during its annual meeting on July 9.

17 Jun 2020

Interview: William Doyle, Incoming Head of the Port of Baltimore

(Photo: Maryland Port Administration)

William P. Doyle is the incoming Executive Director of the Maryland Port Administration. A former U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner, Doyle currently serves as CEO & Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America – and the group's member companies have recently made a series of announcements to build new dredges of several types and sizes. We caught up with the incoming Port of Baltimore head to discuss his initial goals for the new role. How do you feel about being selected the head of MPA and Executive Director of the Port of Baltimore?I feel terrific.

10 Jun 2020

Doyle Hired to Lead the Port of Baltimore

© Alexey Lesik / Adobe Stock

William P. Doyle, a former U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner, has been hired to lead the Port of Baltimore as the new executive director of the Maryland Port Administration, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced.Currently CEO and Executive Director of the Dredging Contractors of America, Doyle will take the helm at the Port of Baltimore effective July 22, succeeding Jim White, who announced he would step down at the end of 2019. Doyle was appointed by Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Greg Slater…

17 Mar 2020

Long Beach Terminals Remain Open

COSCO America leaving Pier J at the Port of Long Beach in February 2020. (Photo: Port of Long Beach)

Marine terminals at at the United States’ second-busiest seaport have remained open and operating amid the unfolding coronavirus crisis, with regular vessel calls and scheduled work shifts continuing, the Port of Long Beach said.The port said its marine terminals are receiving vessel calls and workers are transferring cargo off and on ships under the health-protective directives established by the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection, with guidance from the U.S.

15 Oct 2019

France Conducts Training on Port Management

An intensive training on port management and operational efficiency was delivered to high-level officials and decision-makers from maritime and port authorities around the world.The annual five-week course, delivered by the Institut Portuaire d’Enseignement et de Recherche (IPER), concluded on 11 October in le Havre, France.The 33rd Advanced Course on Port Operations and Management welcomed 19 participants from 19 countries. Seven of these participants were women. The participating countries were Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Jamaica, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Philippines, Senegal, Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania and Togo.The course includes class-based training and site visits.

17 Sep 2019

ARC to Christen 3 Vessels on Friday

American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) will christen the ARC Resolve, ARC Integrity and the ARC Independence, welcoming three of the most versatile and militarily-useful ships to the U.S.-flag commercial fleet, on Friday in the Port of Baltimore.ARC’s three, new vessels will be enrolled in the Maritime Security Program (MSP), the bedrock Congressional maritime readiness program, and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA).Maritime Administrator Mark H. Buzby will deliver the keynote address at the ship naming ceremony. He will be joined by several other distinguished speakers: Major General Michael C. Wehr, director of Strategic Plans, Policy, and Logistics (J5/J4) at U.S.

20 Mar 2019

IAMPE's Newest Class Of Maritime Port Executives

Photo: IAMPE

The International Association of Maritime and Port Executives (IAMPE) has announced the latest group of Maritime Port Executives who completed the accredited seminar the week of March 11th at DHS/USCG Headquarters in Washington, DC.The latest class of graduates include LCDR. William Albright, USCG-MPE; Mr. Zach Bonheim-MPE; Cdr. Charles Bright, USCG-MPE; CDR. Bradely Clare, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Dan Davis, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Leslie Downing, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Jamie Gatz, USCG-MPE; CDR. Jason Gunning, USCG-MPE; Mr. Rajiv Khandpur-MPE; LT. David Liberman, USCG-MPE; LCDR. Ben Mazyck, USCG-MPE; LCDR.

13 Dec 2018

Brazil’s Itaqui Port and Panama Canal Sign MOU

The Panama Canal has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Itaqui to promote the shipment of grains and other cargoes in the commercial route from Brazil through the Panama Canal to destinations located in the Pacific Ocean.Itaqui, located in São Luís, Maranhão, is the Brazilian port closest to the Panama Canal. It  has the infrastructure and connectivity necessary to move these exports to markets in Asia."With this agreement, the Panama Canal looks to promote the use of the Panamax Locks for grain transits originating in northern Brazil and traveling to markets in Asia" said a statement from Panama Canal Authority."We look forward to a very productive relationship while we work together on our mutual objectives of improving and facilitating global trade…

09 Jul 2018

IEnova to Build Liquid Fuels Project in Sinaloa, Mexico

Sempra Energy announced that its Mexican subsidiary, Infraestructura Energética Nova (IEnova), has been awarded a 20-year contract by the Topolobampo Port Administration in Mexico to build and operate a receipt, storage and send-out liquid fuels marine terminal in the state of Sinaloa. With a projected investment of approximately $150 million, the first phase of the new liquid fuels terminal will have a storage capacity of 1 million barrels of fuel, including gasoline and diesel. Operations are expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2020. "The Topolobampo project will facilitate access to additional international fuel supplies and help meet growing demand in Mexico," said Joseph A. Householder, president and chief operating officer of Sempra Energy.

28 Mar 2018

TOTE President Chiarello to Retire

Anthony Chiarello (Photo: TOTE)

TOTE Inc. president and CEO Anthony Chiarello will retire this summer after eight years at the helm and nearly four decades in the maritime industry. “As I look ahead to my 63rd birthday later this year, it is time for me to spend more time with my family and loved ones,” Chiarello said. TOTE said its parent company Saltchuk will make an announcement regarding Chiarello’s successor in due course. Chiarello began his career in stevedoring at ITO, now part of Ports America, in the…

04 Feb 2017

Alabama Port Signs Agreement with Cuba

The Alabama State Port Authority has announced a new memorandum of understanding with the National Port Administration of Cuba, potentially laying the groundwork for future trade deals. The five-year, cooperative agreement  was signed at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Port of Mobile and the Cuban ports marks the first ports agreement signed on U.S. soil since 1959. James K. Lyons, chief executive officer of the Alabama State Port Authority and Rene Rolando Fernandez de Lara Cabezas, director of Inland Waterway and Sea Transport, of the Republic of Cuba Ministry of Transportation…