Pasha leases 21 acres from Tradepoint Atlantic in Baltimore for automotive processing

The San Rafael, Calif.-based global logistics and transportation services provider will begin processing vehicles in Baltimore next month.    Pasha Group said it expects to start receiving and processing automobiles next month in Baltimore at Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,100-acre multimodal industrial complex on Sparrows Point.
   The global logistics and transportation services provider will receive automobiles made by Fiat Chrysler. Pasha said the model to be imported is yet to be decided.
   Tradepoint Atlantic said the initial lease will ready 21 acres of improved land, with potential expansion of up to 150 acres for roll-on/roll-off operations for imported automobiles, beginning with Fiat Chrysler.
   Joseph Greco, vice president of commercial & trade development at Tradepoint Atlantic, said the facility includes a 2,200-foot berth on the southside of the property where ships drawing up to 36 feet can dock, sufficient draft for roll-on, roll-off vessels.
   He said Tradepoint is creating a pad where the stern ramp from vehicle carriers will be able to rest and discharge automobiles and then driven to the Pasha site where the Fiat Chrysler cars will be driven. He said Tradepoint Atlantic has designated 150 acres within its footprint for automobile and roll-on, roll-off cargo, but could expand that if warranted because of demand from Pasha or other automobile processors.
   The first vessel call for Pasha is planned for July 2016, with Tradepoint Atlantic investing $5 million on infrastructure upgrades such as berth improvements, security upgrades and additional roadway infrastructure for the site.
   “Pasha has long sought the ideal location in the Mid-Atlantic to set up a scalable ro-ro facility, and has operated regionally for many years,” Pasha Automotive Services Senior Vice President John Pasha said. “In our diligence we recognized that Sparrows Point in Baltimore is the ideal location based on rail access to both CSX and Norfolk Southern railways, proximity to the Atlantic, and major highways, and virtually unlimited growth potential. Management possesses the needed expertise and has already demonstrated incredible development capability through their remedial and new construction projects at the facility.”
   Vessels will dock with direct access to its facility, with the stevedoring company to be determined by the ocean carrier. Pasha said other manufacturers have expressed interest in the Tradepoint Atlantic location.
   Just last month, the Port of San Francisco granted Pasha a lease for Pier 80 to import and process automobiles and other cargo through that site. Pasha also has operations in San Diego, Calif.; Port of Grays Harbor in Aberdeen, Wash.; and has an agreement to operate in Port Manatee, Fla.
   In addition to the 2,200-foot berth, Tradepoint Atlantic has a 1,150-foot long finger pier where breakbulk cargo and bulk commodities such as organic corn, zinc calcine, stalite lightweight aggregate, slag and pumice are handled.
    Greco said that Tradepoint Atlantic has attracted several additional tenants to the site including:
     * FedEx Ground,which has leased 50 acres of land and is building a 350,000-square-foot facility;
     * Pacorini Metals, which has taken over 350,000 square feet in a 750,000-square-foot building used to store metals and ingots;
     * And Lafarge Holcim, which has a cement plant on the property and uses slag imported through the terminal.
   “There are liquid bulk opportunities as well,” said Greco, both with four existing tanks with combined capacity of 750,000 barrels at the site and potential for additional tanks.