Port of Baltimore passes 1 million ton mark in May

The mid-Atlantic port handled 1,007,704 tons of general cargo at its public marine terminals, as well as 86,403 TEUs, for the month, setting new records for both sectors.    The Port of Baltimore handled over 1 million tons of general cargo in May 2017, an 11 percent increase from the previous year and an all-time monthly high for the port, according to recent data. The previous record of 923,030 tons was set in January.
   In addition, the port handled a record 86,403 TEUs for the month.
   The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) recently purchased 70 acres of land near the Seagirt Marine Terminal that will be used for additional cargo opportunities including containers at the mid-Atlantic port
   “The Port of Baltimore continues to perform at a very high level and has had a tremendous year so far,” Governor Larry Hogan said of the results. “With thousands of direct jobs and nearly 130,000 jobs in Maryland that are connected to the Port, our administration remains committed to the Port’s continued success.”
   Baltimore has been recognized at “the most efficient container port in the U.S.,” with an average of 71 container moves per hour per berth, according to rankings compiled by the Journal of Commerce. It is also the fourth-fastest growing port, according to the JOC rankings, with a 9.8 percent increase in cargo handling in 2016.
   The Port of Baltimore also reported a record first quarter, in which general cargo volumes jumped 5 percent year-over-year to 2.56 million tons.