Box volumes up 15% at Boston

Box volumes up 15% at Boston    The port of Boston, managed by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), handled 15 percent more containers in the first nine months of this year, when cargo volumes reached 101,869 TEUs.
   Overall container tonnage increased 16 percent to 1 million tons from 866,028 during the first nine months of 2003.
   “A new record was set when the number of trucks processed through Conley Container Terminal averaged 753 per day during the week of Oct. 18-22,” Massport said.
   “Boston, like many other ports in the United States, is experiencing a rise in cargo volumes due to overall increased global trade with Asia,” said Mike Leone, port director.
   The port of Boston continues to raise its limited presence in the container market, with expanded vessel calls in the transpacific and transatlantic trades. Mediterranean Shipping Co. doubled its Boston service last year to two weekly calls from Europe, and the CKYH alliance of COSCO, “K” Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin started an Asia-to-Boston service more than two years ago.
   Columbia Coastal Transport also provides weekly barge service between Boston and New York.
   “In total, nearly 20 ocean carriers serve the port of Boston,” Massport said.
   Boston is completing infrastructure works to provide better connections from Conley Terminal to the interstate highway system and its nearby rail facility.