Port also recognized by industry magazine for security efforts 

Baltimore, MD — The state-owned, public marine terminals at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore received a top rating for the 11th consecutive year in a security assessment performed by the U.S. Coast Guard. The annual assessment reviewed the Port’s six public marine terminals: Dundalk, Seagirt, North Locust Point, South Locust Point (including the cruise passenger terminal), Fairfield and Masonville.

“The rating is further proof that the Port of Baltimore is not only one of the most productive ports in America, but also among the most secure,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “We greatly appreciate the men and women who work hard every day to implement the practices and procedures to ensure our Port remains as safe as possible. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition." 

Each year Coast Guard Sector Maryland conducts an inspection to ensure compliance of federal security regulations. The visual inspection includes a review of access control procedures and makes certain that physical security fixtures, such as high-mast lighting and fencing, are up to federal security standards.

In recent years the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA), which oversees the Port’s public marine terminals, has implemented new security initiatives and enhancements including closed circuit television, cyber security initiatives and stronger access control technologies.

In addition to the Coast Guard rating, the Port of Baltimore also was recently recognized by Security magazine in its listing of the top U.S. seaport and airports for ongoing security programs and initiatives.   

The Port of Baltimore ranks first among the nation’s ports for volume of autos and light trucks, roll on/roll off heavy farm and construction machinery, imported sugar and imported gypsum. It ranks 11th among major U.S. ports for cargo handled and ninth nationally for total cargo value. Final figures for 2019 are pending, but in 2018 the Port handled a record 43 million tons of international cargo at the state- and privately-owned terminals, with a total cargo value of $59.7 billion. The state-owned public terminals handled a record 10.9 million tons of general cargo in 2018 and a record 850,147 cars and light trucks, the most in the U.S. for the eighth consecutive year.

The Port of Baltimore generates about 15,330 direct jobs, with nearly 140,000 jobs overall linked to Port activities. The average salary for people with direct jobs at the Port is 9.5 percent higher than the average annual wage in Maryland. The Port is responsible for nearly $3.3 billion in personal wages and salaries, $2.6 billion in business revenues and $395 million in state and local tax revenues.