Page 27 - Port of Baltimore - Issue 2 2024

SVP Port, Terminal and Stevedoring Operations Americas. “Wallenius Wilhelmsen vessels moved nearly
1 million tons of cars, trucks, rolling equipment and breakbulk cargo across the docks in Baltimore in 2023 — more than a 7% growth from a strong 2022. Our combined land-based businesses also grew, providing the required processing infrastructure that attracts our biggest customers to Baltimore. More than 200,000 auto and roll-on/ roll-off vehicles were processed by Wallenius Wilhelmsen following strict manufacture guidelines.”
Looking forward to the rest of 2024, Derby added: “We will also continue working towards net-zero operations to not just support our customers’ emission reduction targets, but to be a good steward for the greater Baltimore community.”
More Good News
for the Port
2023 PROVIDED OTHER SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE PORT OF BALTIMORE:
ZIM SHIPPING LINES, one of the world’s largest container shipping companies, doubled its service in Maryland in 2023, increasing its frequency from bi-weekly to weekly calls. ZIM also increased the size of its ships coming into Maryland by nearly 50%.
THEEVERGREENEVERMAX,thelargestcontainership
to ever enter the Port, arrived with capacity to handle more than 15,000 TEU containers. The arrival of ships of this size continues to demonstrate Baltimore’s capabilities for handling supersized vessels, including its ultra-large Neo-Panamax cranes and deep channel.
MORE THAN 444,000 INDIVIDUALS CRUISED OUT OF THE PORT OF BALTIMORE, representing the third-highest passenger total in the Port’s history, and the most since 2012.
NORWEGIANCRUISELINE,oneofthetopcruiselinesin the world, began a new fall and winter cruising schedule in 2023 from the Port of Baltimore. Norwegian offered sailings to New England and Canada as well as the Bahamas and Caribbean. Norwegian will return later this year.
THE MID-CHESAPEAKE BAY ISLAND ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION CONSTRUCTION, which will use dredged sediment from Port of Baltimore shipping channels to restore eroding James and Barren Islands and protect Dorchester County’s shoreline, has officially begun. Mid-Bay will eventually replace Poplar Island
as the state’s primary receiving site for Chesapeake Bay channel dredged sediment.
THE HOWARD STREET TUNNEL PROJECT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. It will support the Port’s rising container business, allow for double-stacked container rail cars and enable seamless double-stack capacity from Maine
to Florida. The project involves clearance improvements in the 127-year-old tunnel and at 21 other locations between Baltimore and Philadelphia.
With the tunnel expansion project, Baltimore will be able to send double-stacked containers by rail into the Ohio Valley and
on to Chicago. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2027. The Howard Street Tunnel project benefits from public-private investment from the federal government, Maryland, CSX and others, and is expected to increase the Port’s business by about 160,000 containers annually. The project will also generate about 6,550 construction jobs, and an additional 7,300 jobs from increased business. 
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