Page 25 - Port of Baltimore - September/October 2018

and keeps our customers from paying long-distance drayage rates,” he explained. “We can respond quickly to urgent requests for drayage support, for example, from customers who are on their ‘Last Free Day’ before their ship lines will begin assessing them for demurrage charges.”
With multiple terminals handling the full spectrum of imported goods, a wide array of logistics providers
is needed to support continuous operations, according to Smith. As
a result, it’s possible for multiple logistics providers to thrive and grow simultaneously without excessive head-to-head competition.
The bulk-freight handlers and forest-product experts, for example, don’t compete with the packaged goods handlers, Smith said. And companies that handle roll-on/roll-off vehicles don’t compete directly with companies like Belts, which provides such services as highly regulated food-grade handling, FTZ storage and air-conditioned cooler storage
to protect fine international wines exported to Baltimore from all over the world.
“Everyone in the POB community is rooting and actively working for the Port’s success. Knowing full well that their own individual levels of success are, in part, by-products of the Port
of Baltimore’s success, stakeholders collaborate in multiple ways to help the Port succeed,” Smith said.
For example, U.S. Customs House brokers and freight forwarders work together in the Baltimore Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association (BCBFA), while Port-related business leaders interact with Baltimore City officials in the Baltimore Industrial Group (BIG).
At the federal level, private
and public service providers solve burgeoning issues in the Federal Agency Quality Working Group (FAQWG). Other major associations helping to keep the Port of Baltimore strong are the Baltimore Port Alliance (BPA), the Baltimore Maritime Exchange (BMX), the Women’s Traffic Club (founded in 1934), the Propeller Club and the Maryland Motor Truck Association (founded in 1935), to name a few.
“Our customers love how quickly they can access their containers at the POB once their ships arrive,” Smith said. “Baltimore competes very well against the ‘Big Guys’ – the Ports
of New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles – with relatively lower levels of delays and congestion. The Port provides Belts with opportunities to service customers who are pleased with its many competitive advantages. Over the years, introductions from members of the Port community have created many long-term relationships for Belts.”
The MDOT MPA promotes the Port to businesses around the world,
Ace Logistics has a strategic presence at the Port and plans to double its footprint by the end of 2018 with two additional buildings.
Several million square feet in multiple locations
1.5 million square feet assembly center/warehouse
1.2 million square feet
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