Port of Baltimore officials and federal, state, and local leaders joined CSX executives in November 2021 at Mount Royal Station, just outside the entrance to the historic Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore, to announce the start of work on $466 million worth of improvements that will enlarge the tunnel and clear CSX’s entire intermodal network for double-stack train service.
States. Employees receive extensive training in the requirements of the forest products industry. When measured in tonnage, most cargo that moves through the Port of Baltimore is containerized. Its Seagirt Marine Tunnel, one of the most efficient container terminals in the country, offers a berth that’s 50 feet deep, as well as 11 cranes, including four Neo-Panamax cranes that can reach across 22 containers. It can move 40 containers per hour. Several other features distinguish the Port. NAVIS, its electronic terminal management planning and control system links truck drivers, freight forwarders, customs brokers, stevedores and others, streamlining communication. The e-modal trucker check enhances security. The Port of Baltimore is 150 miles farther inland than other Mid-Atlantic ports, cutting the distance between manufacturers, customers, and the port. The port offers on-dock rail service to two Class 1 rail carriers, offering direct connections to midwestern states, and is within an overnight drive to two-thirds of the U.S. population. The port is also near Interstate 95—“the main street of the East Coast,” says spokesperson Richard Scher—as well as Interstate 70. The convenient highway connections make it easy for trucks to efficiently come and go, he adds. Approximately 250 trucking companies connect the port with numerous regions across North America. n
will remain a vital tactic for moving them, Bozza says. The Port Authority’s Port Master Plan also contemplates the addition of inland ports—inland terminals connected to the seaport by road or rail—to boost capacity. Several attributes allow the Port Authority to stand out: its access to millions of consumers, numerous terminal and transportation options, expansive warehouse and distribution space, and quality of service. “Together, they make us an unrivaled choice for people shipping goods,” Bozza says. MARYLAND PORT ADMINISTRATION: IMPROVEMENTS STACK UP Late in 2021, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan broke ground on the $466-million Howard Street Tunnel Expansion project. This will reconstruct the 126-year-old freight rail tunnel to accommodate double-stacked container trains traveling to and from the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. The project is expected to generate 6,550 construction jobs and an additional 7,300 ongoing jobs from increased business at the port. Among other changes, the project will improve vertical clearance at the Howard Street Tunnel and at 21 other locations between Baltimore and Philadelphia. This will allow for double stacking, in which two shipping containers are stacked and transported on top of each other. The Howard Street Tunnel, which is owned
by CSX, will be reconstructed to provide an additional 18 inches of clearance. “Freight rail is an essential link in the nation’s supply chain,” said Greg Slater, secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation. “This investment strengthens that link for generations.” While the project had initially been estimated to cost between $1 billion and $4 billion, advances in construction technology cut the estimated price tag significantly, according to the announcement. In addition, the proposed project will avoid significant disruption to surrounding communities. These enhancements will build on the Port of Baltimore’s history as one of the top ports in the United States in several sectors, including automobiles. In fact, in 1963, the Port of Baltimore handled the entry of the first Volkswagen Beetle. Since then, it’s attracted additional auto cargo and now handles the majority of Ro/Ro cargo on the East Coast. One reason is its low damage rate. The port’s Ro/Ro Rodeo works with manufacturers to educate workers on the unique handling requirements of each vehicle type. The 200 acres of pavement available at Dundalk Marine Terminal also helps ensure the port can efficiently handle rising volumes of Ro/Ro cargo. The Port of Baltimore also specializes in handling forest products. Balterm, its forest products terminal, offers 1.1 million square feet of warehouse space and is one of the leading handlers of imported forest products in the United
100 Inbound Logistics • May 2022
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