WASHINGTON: Ports America Chesapeake at the end of the month will begin handling the management of the Port of Baltimore’s intermodal container transfer facility, a move aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity.
CSX Transportation and Ports America agreed to the hand-over in January, which will consolidate management of the operation, improve on-dock handling and position Baltimore to attract more cargo. CSX will continue to operate international and domestic intermodal services from the facility. With CSX Chairman and CEO Michael Ward at his side, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Monday pledged to reapply for federal funding to retool a tunnel so that the railroad can double-stack containers on lines connecting to the port.
“With the newly expanded Panama Canal, the Port of Baltimore is well positioned to handle increased volumes and ultra-large neo-Panamax container vessels,” Bayard Hogans, general manager of Ports America Chesapeake, said in a statement. “Our four super-post-Panamax cranes and on-dock rail service gives us a higher level of competitiveness to attract new freight to the region.” Baltimore is one of four U.S. East Coast ports with 50-foot-deep channels considered key to attracting the new breed of larger ships. The others are Virginia, Miami, and New York-New Jersey.
