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ARGENTINA
ONCE AGAIN CHOOSES PORT OF PHILADELPHIA
TO HANDLE ITS CITRUS CARGOES
Philadelphia, July 18, 2001--
James T. McDermott, Jr., Executive Director of the Philadelphia
Regional Port Authority (PRPA), today announced that the Port of
Philadelphia was once again chosen as the port of choice for citrus
cargoes from the Republic of Argentina destined for U.S. markets.
Between July and September, nine vessels will deliver Argentine
lemons, grapefruits and oranges to the United States, utilizing
the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority's Tioga Marine Terminal.
The first vessel of the season, the m.v. Nickerie, has already discharged
1400 pallets of fruit (about 84,000 cases) at the Tioga Marine Terminal
on Tuesday, July 10, and subsequent vessels will arrive about one
every two weeks.
"Last year the growers and importing
companies associated with Argentina's fine citrus products were
gracious enough to sample the facilities and capabilities of the
Port of Philadelphia for the handling of these new cargoes,"
said Mr. McDermott. "I am very pleased to report that their
experience with our port during the 2000 pilot program was an extremely
positive one, and that these growers and importers have once again
chosen Philadelphia as they undertake their first full season of
Argentine fruit shipments to this country."
This new cargo for the Port of Philadelphia came
about due to a June 2000 ruling by the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA), which for the first time allowed citrus products
from Argentina to enter selected U.S. markets. As the Port of Philadelphia
has long specialized in the handling of imported fruit and other
perishable agricultural products (including grapes from Chile, clementines
from Spain, and bananas from Costa Rica), port and maritime industry
officials immediately expressed interest in handling Argentina's
citrus cargoes when last year's ruling permitted these products
to enter U.S. markets.
Anticipating the USDA ruling, Philadelphia Regional
Port Authority officials, notably Deputy Executive Director Robert
C. Blackburn and Marketing Director Sean Mahoney, worked with officials
of Delaware River Stevedores, the operator of the Tioga Marine Terminal,
to craft a pilot program attractive to Argentine growers and shippers.
The latter groups agreed to use the Port of Philadelphia for its
initial shipments, and the pilot program commenced in June of 2000,
continuing into the fall.
"Our aim was to use last year's pilot
program to introduce to our friends in Argentina the excellent facilities
and services of the Port of Philadelphia," said Mr. Blackburn.
"In particular, the pilot program allowed us to demonstrate
the expanded on-dock refrigeration we recently installed at Tioga
Terminal, our expert labor force, and quick turn-around time. I
am pleased that the growers and importing companies liked what they
saw last year and are returning."
Shipments for this first full season of Argentine
fruit will be handled by Seatrade, a liner service operating between
the Port of Buenos Aires and the Port of Philadelphia. The cargo
will be shipped breakbulk fashion, about 2500 pallets per vessel.
Importing companies participating in this year's shipments include
S.A. San Miguel; Bocchi; Kopke; Oppenheimer; Fisher; Toronto International
Fruits; Couchenese-Rose; Seald Sweet; and LGS.
"Seeing the operation on a day-to-day
basis last year, it was clear to me that the owners of these citrus
cargoes were impressed with our well-trained labor force, and the
virtually damage- free handling," said Roger Youngren, Vice
President of Delaware River Stevedores, the operator of Tioga Marine
Terminal. "In addition, I was gratified to see, both last year
and for the first vessel this season, an enthusiastic and cooperative
effort on the part of the ILA locals that work at Tioga to make
a positive impression on these new customers. That also has been
a major contributor to the goodwill we have established, and bodes
well for the future of this exciting new business."
The Philadelphia Regional
Port Authority (PRPA) is an independent agency of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing,
and promotion of public port facilities along the Delaware River
in Philadelphia. PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize,
expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities
to prospective port users. Delaware River Stevedores (DRS) is the
terminal operator of Tioga Marine Terminal.
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GOVERNOR RIDGE RELEASES
$10 MILLION FOR PURCHASE OF
TWO NEW CONTAINER CRANES FOR PACKER AVENUE MARINE TERMINAL.
Philadelphia, June 6, 2001—James
T. McDermott, Jr. Executive Director of the Philadelphia Regional
Port Authority (PRPA), today announced that Pennsylvania Governor
Tom Ridge has released $10 million for the purchase of two new,
state-of-the-art, container cranes for the PRPA’s Packer Avenue
Marine Terminal, the Port of Philadelphia’s largest facility.
“These new cranes will significantly
enhance the Port’s efficiency,” said Mr. McDermott.
“We will be able load and discharge cargo at a quicker rate
than ever, as well as accommodate the new larger container vessels
being placed in service by the world’s shipping lines. In
addition, a more efficient Packer Avenue Marine Terminal will significantly
increase direct and indirect jobs in the region.” The Packer
Avenue Marine Terminal currently has six container cranes, including
one heavy-lift crane, in service.
Upon releasing the funds on June 5, Governor
Ridge said, “The Port of Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s
international seaport. It is our direct link to markets around the
world. So it is essential that its facilities keep up with today’s
technology.”
Anticipating the release of the $10 million in
capital budget public improvement funds, PRPA staff has been preparing
design specifications for the two cranes, as well as working to
identify the company that will build and install them. An announcement
will be made upon selection of the firm.
“We are gratified that, once again,
Governor Ridge has recognized the vital role of the Port of Philadelphia
plays in the economic health of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the
surrounding region,” said PRPA Chairman David W. Woods. “These
new cranes will allow Pennsylvania’s international seaport
to vigorously compete for cargo and maritime related jobs well into
the 21st century.”
The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA)
is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charge
with the management, maintenance, and promotion of public port facilities
along Philadelphia's waterfront.
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