The US Port of Baltimore has received US$10m in federal funding to increase cargo capacity and infrastructure in a bid to improve one of Maryland state’s “greatest economic engines”.
Funding came from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant aims to provide rail access to the Fairfield Marine Terminal.
The project will use dredged material from the port’s main access channel to fill an obsolete basin and create a 7.6 acre cargo staging area near the vessel berth.
Maryland Port Administration says that while the channel is deep enough to accommodate supersized container vessels, there are portions that need to be widened to allow for easier access for larger ships. Hence, the dredging serves a useful dual purpose.
Joseph Biden, vice president, Maryland Port Administration, said that Baltimore is looking at cashing in on its burgeoning markets for ro-ro equipment including farm and construction machinery and vehicles - the primary commodities of the terminal. The port currently ranks in first position in the country for these commodities.
The investment at Baltimore will create over 5,700 new jobs and will prepare the port to take on the new post-Panamax vessels coming into service over the next few years.
