In Preparation for future growth and the Howard Street Tunnel Expansion

As container volumes continue to grow and the Howard Street Tunnel expansion project moves forward, Ports America Chesapeake is currently investing more than $110 million in marine terminal upgrades, and will invest an additional $56 million in yard equipment, to support the ongoing growth of the Port of Baltimore and Seagirt Marine Terminal.

The strength of the Maryland and Mid-Atlantic market, coupled with supply chains adapting to the growing needs of e-commerce, have buoyed container volumes at the Port—with October’s numbers up over 10 percent compared to last year. While the global COVID-19 pandemic created significant volume reductions in early 2020, since June of this year volumes have rebounded rapidly. The long-term growth projections for container volumes for the Port of Baltimore and Mid-Atlantic region remain positive and are directly tied to a robust industrial commercial real estate market expanding to support e-commerce trends.

To support these trends, Ports America Chesapeake’s infrastructure enhancements to the terminal include four new container cranes and the upgrade of a second 50-foot berth, allowing Seagirt to handle two 14,000 TEU vessels simultaneously. In addition to technology advancements to the Terminal Operating System (TOS), improved weigh-in-motion truck scales, and advanced visibility tools, Ports America Chesapeake will also invest in new container handling equipment, including 15 hybrid-electric rubber tyred gantry (RTG) cranes.

Other improvements at Seagirt include: new truck gates allowing greater capacity for increasing container volumes, an empty container repair depot providing additional space in the main terminal, and container handling equipment used for servicing vessels, yards, and rail operations.

“As we continue the fight against COVID-19, the Port of Baltimore is leading the way in Maryland’s economic recovery,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “As a result of our partnership with Ports America Chesapeake, jobs have been created, business has increased, and the Port of Baltimore is one of the busiest ports in the nation.”

During the past decade, Ports America Chesapeake has made significant improvements at Seagirt Marine Terminal beginning in 2010 with the public-private partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA). The investments made through the partnership have provided the State of Maryland the ability to attract the largest container vessels on the East Coast to the Port of Baltimore, including 14,000-TEU (twenty-foot equivalent-units) container vessels now calling Seagirt Marine Terminal. A decade later, Ports America Chesapeake’s continued investments are putting the State of Maryland in position to capitalize on the expansion of the Howard Street Tunnel.

The Howard Street Tunnel expansion is anticipated to double the tunnels throughput capacity. This expanded capability will fully leverage the port’s proximity to Midwest markets and the expansion of Seagirt Marine Terminal.

“We are looking forward to future growth and seeing the Howard Street Tunnel expansion foster continued economic success for the Port of Baltimore,” said Ports America Chesapeake Vice President Bayard Hogans. “Ports America Chesapeake would like to thank Governor Hogan for his foresight and leadership on this project. We are committed to continued investment and expansion, utilizing advanced technologies and enhanced infrastructure to support that growth at the Port of Baltimore and Seagirt Marine Terminal. We would also like to thank all the dedicated men and women working at our terminals for their efforts to keep commerce moving during these challenging times. Ports America Chesapeake continues our commitment to the safety and welfare of our employees.”

“Our public-private partnership with Ports America Chesapeake continues to serve as an example of how public and private sectors can work together to benefit all Marylanders,” said MDOT Secretary Greg Slater. “Investments that are part of this collaboration have supported the Port’s critical role in keeping our supply chain open during the COVID-19 emergency, and set the stage for the Port as an economic engine for Maryland’s recovery.”

“We are very excited to continue moving forward with Ports America Chesapeake to grow and expand the Seagirt Marine Terminal,” said MDOT Maryland Port Administration Executive Director William P. Doyle. “Soon we begin dredging operations to deepen a second berth at Seagirt to 50-feet, which will allow two large container ships to visit the Port of Baltimore at the same time. We are also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to improve the loop channel into Seagirt, which would make it easier for these massive ships to come in and depart the Port of Baltimore more efficiently. We look forward to many more years of a great partnership with Ports America.”