Project Cargo Weekly - Yearbook 2020

Baltimore is one of many ports on the East Coast of the US. How would you rank the ports on the eastern seaboard in terms or their suitability for project cargo?

The main east coast ports from north to south are Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville and Port Everglades/Miami. There are smaller ports like New Haven, CT; Camden, NJ; Wilmington Delaware; Wilmington, North Carolina; and Brunswick, GA that handle breakbulk vessels and container carriers, too.

As manufacturing has moved south in the United States, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah and Jacksonville have really stepped up their ability to handle project cargo. They all can handle it and do a great job. They have dedicated people that help us when we need it. Ports like Wilmington, Delaware and Wilmington, North Carolina have captured project cargo business by focusing on specific commodities. All ports want a piece of the pie, because it can be a great source of revenue for the port and local economy. I would say Boston is the only port that I have listed that really isn’t a gateway for project cargo.

Baltimore is the number one RO/RO port in the country, let alone the East Coast. With RO/RO vessels comes the ability to move static cargo on MAFIs. Baltimore has breakbulk carriers that call at the port on a liner basis and inducement basis. Baltimore is also the closest port geographically to the Midwest. Truckers don’t have to drive as many miles from Baltimore to say Cleveland or Chicago, so costs can be lower. I’m partial to Baltimore but look at all ports to see what is the best way to handle the shipment.

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