More, more, more.
That seems to be the call coming from the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, according to the Maryland Port Administration.
The Port reached new levels for foreign cargo last year, rising 2 percent to 32.4 million tons from 31.8 million tons in 2004, according to data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Division. That?s the highest in 24 years and the second time since 1995 that foreign cargo has exceeded 30 million tons.
Cargo moving through public terminals at the port reached 8.1 million tons in 2005, setting a new record and marking the first time the public port has exceeded 8 million tons.
“These latest statistics demonstrate that our recent investments in the port are producing great dividends, our work force is excellent, and that the port is moving in the right direction,” said Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. in a statement.
In dollar value, the port set a new record.
Total foreign cargo in 2005 was valued at $35.8 billion, an increase from $31.2 billion in 2004. It was also the second time in the port?s history that the value has exceeded $30 million, according to the port administration.
Port officials used the numbers to support future investments at the port.
“At Gov. Ehrlich?s direction, we have doubled our fleet of cranes handling containers, built new warehouses and set the stage for construction of a new 50-foot berth to handle the larger ships,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan. “We are well positioned to compete in a very competitive maritime marketplace.”
And port officials said the increase in cargo volume will not overburden or put port security at risk.
The port is one of only two ports in the nation that has the Rapiscan Eagle Cargo Inspection System, which can X-ray cargo containers and trucks for contraband and explosives.
Several agencies, including the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, the U.S. Coast Guard and a private security firm team up to police and secure the port, said Richard Scher, a spokesman for the Maryland Port Administration.
“We have a good security team,” Scher said.
“It?s not one agency, it?s not one authority, it is really a team.”
