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Issue 6 2021 - FBJNA


the first such pact between


POLB and an inland port. He says the contract aims to improve cargo flows between the nation’s second-busiest seaport and Utah’s logistics network, which would boost


export


opportunities. Meanwhile, POLB notched


its second-highest volume on record, with a 38.5% increase in the first six months of 2021,


according to S&P Global Platts in June. At the same time, the port


is bursting with infrastructure investments, which over the next decade will total $1.6 billion, most going toward developing its on-dock rail capacity, Cordero says.


Samplings


A small sampling of other infrastructure spends shows


///MIDWEST INLAND PORTS


“We didn’t see any slowdown until about June or July of 2020, and then it lasted for just about a month and picked right back up.”


-- Mary Lamie, St. Louis Regional Freightway


Virginia’s $800 million investments in its Norfolk International Terminals and Virginia International Gateway; the Port of Savannah opening nine new


tracks at the Mason Mega Rail Terminal this fall; Milwaukee’s combined $35 million- plus in its rail network and Agricultural Marine Export Facility; a $25 million federal


grant toward expanding SC Port’s Greer Inland Port; and $26 million in Duluth Seaway Port Authority’s capital projects since 2018. On top of all that, Congress


and the Biden Administration continue work on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending package


that


includes $16 billion for ports and waterways, according to a June 24 report on NPR.


supply-chain infrastructure.” Now back to those nagging


congestion issues marine terminals experienced through the last 15 months, he cites shortages in trucking and labor at receiving warehouses; chassis shortfalls; and distribution centers running overcapacity. “However,” he adds, “it


is essential to maintain per s pecti v e—n obod y predicted consumer


goods


growth to this level.” Which brings us back to Joe Harris in Virginia. “Consumers are beginning


to realize that we get a lot of things from overseas, and the majority of that stuff comes on the ships,” he says. Then Nils Haupt, Senior


Director, Corporate Communications at Hapag- Lloyd, makes an equally compelling point: “Nobody


“While volume fell off at the start of the pandemic, it has since roared back.” -- Byron Miller, SC Ports


Now consider this mind-


blowing factoid, complements of John Atkins, President, Global Container Terminals USA. Of its New York terminal, he says: “The port is operating at 2025 monthly volumes without the necessary five years of investment in the


is hiding ships, nobody is hiding containers, we have everything on its way. All ships we can sail are sailing, trust me.” And Harris concludes: “The


worldwide slowdown means there has to be a worldwide restart, and it just takes time.”


Trucks move through Port of Virginia’s Norfolk International Terminals. (Port of Virginia photo.)


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