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| PRPA News Releases Archives 2007 |
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Philadelphia, October
23, 2007 Philadelphia, July 30,
2007 Philadelphia,
May 17, 2007 Philadelphia,March
28, 2007 Philadelphia,
February 27, 2007 Philadelphia,
January 29, 2007 Philadelphia,
January 10, 2007
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MEDITERRANEAN
SHIPPING COMPANY (MSC) BEGINS NEW WEST-COAST-OF-SOUTH-AMERICA SERVICE PORT NOW OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE, REGULAR CONTAINER SERVICE TO BOTH EAST & WEST COASTS OF SOUTH AMERICA Philadelphia, October 23, 2007 James T. McDermott, Jr., Executive Director of the Philadelphia
Regional Port The outbound/exporting component of this new service includes port calls in Philadelphia; Freeport, Bahamas; Cartagena, Colombia; Callao, Peru; Valparaiso, Chile; and San Vicente, Chile. The inbound/importing component of the service will include ship calls in Valparaiso; San Vicente, Freeport, and Philadelphia. With the addition of this new MSC service to the Port of Philadelphia’s roster of container services, the Port now offers regular, direct container service to both the East and West Coasts of South America, via MSC and other liner services that call at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. PRPA also offers extensive breakbulk services to South America. “The recent announcement that a deeper Delaware River is on the way has already encouraged our current port customers to enhance their level of business here,” said Mr. McDermott. “We are very pleased that MSC has initiated this new service at our largest and busiest facility, and are optimistic that other current users of the Port, and well as prospective users, will soon follow suit.” PRPA’s Director of Marketing Sean Mahoney is also pleased at this new development. “Regular, comprehensive, and affordable service is the name of the game in thee maritime industry,” said Mr. Mahoney. Thanks to MSC, those descriptions now apply to our South American connections now more than ever before.” The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning throughout the port district. PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users. Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania. SENATOR SPECTER VISITS "PHILADELPHIA'S WORKING WATERFRONT" Philadelphia, July 30, 2007... U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Arlen Specter, a longtime ally of the Port of Philadelphia, visited the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority's Packer Avenue Marine Terminal today to reiterate his continuing support of Philadelphia's working waterfront, in particular his support of the 45-foot Channel Deepening Project. The project, which seriously advanced this past spring (see PRPA's May 17 news release) when Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine ironed out lingering disagreements between the two states about the project, remained viable for the past several years in large part due to Senator Specter's protection of the federal funding portion of the project during senate budget sessions.
Joining Senator Specter during his visit to the Port was his new senate colleague U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Bob Casey, Jr., as well as U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania Robert Brady and Pennsylvania State Representative William Keller. PRPA Chairman Brian Preski, Esq. acted as Master of Ceremonies during the event, which was witnessed by over two hundred members of the International Longshoremen's Association, Teamsters, and Building Trades unions, their leadership, as well as scores of maritime industry officials. The Delaware River Channel-Deepening Project will deepen the river's main shipping channel from 40 to 45 feet, allowing larger cargo vessels to arrive and depart at the Port of Philadelphia. Over 100,000 new family-sustaining jobs will be created as a result of the deeper channel. The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) has been identified as the local manager/local funding source for this federal project. PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL PORT AUTHORITY
ANNOUNCES START OF 45-FOOT CHANNEL-DEEPENING PROJECT PHILADELPHIA, May 17, 2007… Amid much fanfare, a day sought after by the Philadelphia regional maritime industry for more than two decades finally arrived today when Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced that conflicts with New Jersey related to the Delaware River Channel Deepening Project have been resolved and that the plan to deepen the river’s channel from 40 to 45 feet will now move forward, with the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) now being the project’s local sponsor. Governor Rendell made his announcement during a news conference at the New Jersey headquarters of the Delaware River Port Authority, the project’s previous local sponsor, then crossed the Delaware River to make the same announcement in front of the headquarters of PRPA. At that second news conference, Governor Rendell not only announced that the channel-deepening project was now moving forward, but also his endorsement of a comprehensive and aggressive $300 million capital improvement program that will modernize and expand the Port of Philadelphia’s facilities and infrastructure. Speaking of both the channel-deepening project and the state’s capital investment program, Governor Rendell said, “With our agreement to move forward with dredging, Pennsylvania- through the PRPA- is now prepared to begin an aggressive program of investment in the Port of Philadelphia. We will partner with PRPA and its terminal operators to upgrade and expand existing facilities while also working to attract longterm private investment from international shipping lines and terminal operators to develop our port and allow us to compete on the world stage.” During the past year, PRPA has been in communication with steamship lines, terminal operating companies, and several non-traditional port investors to discuss possible investment in the Port of Philadelphia, especially PRPA’s proposed Southport project, which will significantly expand the Port’s reach south of the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. In all cases, serious interest was expressed, but contingent on one thing happening: commencement of the Delaware River Channel Deepening Project. Now, with the announcement of not only the start of that project, but a $300 million state bond issue for port improvement, port officials here are extremely optimistic about the Port’s future. “This is truly a great day, probably the greatest day we’ve had in the past ten years,” said PRPA Chairman Brian Preski, Esq., who participated in Governor Rendell’s news conference at PRPA headquarters. “Issues in New Jersey that held up dredging have been resolved, and our own state has stepped up to the plate in a huge way to help us modernize this port. Between deeper water and significantly improved, expanded facilities, nothing will stop us. We’ll be able to fulfill our mission of job creation, economic development, and logistics efficiency as never before.” The channel deepening project had been held up for the past several years because the project’s original local sponsor, the bi-state Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) began raising objections about the project’s merits. More specifically, the New Jersey commissioners of the DRPA, at the behest of a handful of New Jersey politicians, raised those objections. This prompted the Pennsylvania commissioners of DRPA, at the request of Governor Rendell- who is also Chairman of the DRPA- to boycott DRPA board meetings for the past 16 months, stopping virtually all business at the agency The dredging issue was resolved when DRPA agreed to relinquish its role as the local sponsor of the project and, just as importantly, to facilitate all legal requirements to make PRPA the local sponsor. Following Governor Rendell’s news conference at DRPA (held an hour before his announcement at PRPA), the Delaware River Port Authority held its first board meeting in more than a year and a half. In the coming days and weeks, PRPA will release additional information about the timetable for dredging and for the state capital improvements. For now, the capital initiative will include, but not be limited to, improvements to Pier 82, Tioga Marine Terminal, Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, and the Port’s Forest Products Center. It also includes additional land purchases outside currently active port areas for the establishment of new maritime operations. But, during the course of both news conferences by Governor Rendell, everything came back to the 45-Foot Channel Deepening Project. “I want to reiterate,” said Governor Rendell, “that none of this state investment would be cost effective, and that we would not have the private investment interest in this region that we now see, if we were not moving forward with the Delaware River dredging project.” The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning in the port district. PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users. Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania.
Governor Rendell Highlights Positive Impacts of Delaware River Dredging, Ports Development Philadelphia, May 17, 2007- Governor Edward G. Rendell today highlighted the significant benefits of an agreement that will allow dredging of the main channel of the Delaware River to proceed under the direction of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, or PRPA.
Governor Rendell said several international shipping companies and terminal operators recently expressed interest about private investment in the expansion of our port facilities, but only if the dredging project was allowed to move forward. The dredging will deepen the river channel from 40 to 45 feet, allowing larger modern shipping vessels to access ports located along the river. “In the coming weeks, I intend to personally meet with representatives of these lines to secure private investment for the development of our port, including, particularly, the Southport project,” the Governor said. “Given that we have one commodity that other ports do not share – the availability of contiguous land – I am optimistic that we can and will attract substantial investment and through expansion we will add jobs to the region.” Governor Rendell said Pennsylvania intends to move forward with a planned financing at the PRPA to raise over $300 million in investment for immediate port development. The bond issue will be supported by the state and by the private beneficiaries of the funds and will support a number of projects:
Governor Rendell said the bond financing also will support the Food Distribution Center project. Cost and environmental concerns will prevent the center from being located at the Navy Yard. Officials are working with the FDC merchants to develop alternatives, including a proposal to renovate and upgrade their existing facilities in South Philadelphia. “I want to reiterate that none of this investment would be cost effective, and that we would not have the investment interest in the region that we now see, if we were not moving forward with the Delaware River dredging project,” Governor Rendell added. The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us PORT OF PHILADELPHIA’S
2006 CARGO STATISTICS SHOW BIG GAINS:
CONTAINERS UP 20% & BREAKBULK UP 25% OVER 2005 LEVELS Philadelphia, March 28, 2007… Brian Preski, Esq., Chairman of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA), today released PRPA’s complete year-end cargo statistics for 2006. The statistics, which reflect cargo activity at all PRPA facilities, showed big gains in both containerized and breakbulk cargoes last year, with several individual cargoes showing particularly dramatic increases. All told, TEU counts were up over 20% over 2005 levels and breakbulk was up 25%. With 247,211 TEUs handled in 2006 compared to the 204,912 TEUs handled in 2005, TEU counts were up 20.64% over 2005 levels. Measured in metric tonnage, 1,906,832 metric tons of containerized cargo were handled in 2006, a 13.98% increase over the 1,672,931 tons handled in 2005. Port marketing officials point to several new container services at PRPA’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal as reasons for the big increase in containerized business. In particular, Hamburg Sud’s “Trident” service, which has strengthened the Port’s connections with Australia and New Zealand and established direct service between the Port of Philadelphia and Europe, has been very successful since its inception in early 2006. On the breakbulk front, several individual cargoes showed gains, often notable ones. With 1,545,394 tons of steel handled in 2006 compared to the 999,369 tons handled in 2005, steel was up a dramatic 54.64%. With 784,777 tons of paper handled at the Port’s Forest Products Center in 2006 compared to the 715,435 handled in 2005, paper was up a healthy 9.69%. With 10,628 tons of project cargo handled in 2006 compared to the 6,381 tons handled in 2005, project cargo was up 66.56%. 36,160 tons of lumber were handled at the Port in 2006, compared to the 34,858 tons handled in 2005, a 3.74% increase. 2006 figures for other breakbulk cargoes, including fruit (108,394 tons handled), cocoa beans (179,129 tons handled), pulp (26,675 tons handled), and military cargoes (6,664 tons handled) were consistent with 2005 figures. Liquid bulk cargoes also showed big gains in 2006. With 628,813 tons of liquid bulk cargoes moving through PRPA’s liquid bulk pier (Pier 179) in 2006, compared to the 485,359 tons that moved through the liquid bulk pier in 2005, liquid bulk cargoes were up a healthy 29.56. With all cargoes counted together, 5,295,400 metric tons of containerized and breakbulk cargoes were handled at PRPA facilities in 2006, a 21.28% increase over the 4,366,094 tons handled in 2005. “My message this year is similar to what I said last year when we released our annual cargo statistics,” said Chairman Preski. “The maritime industry is intensely competitive, yet we’ve once again managed to hold our own and make some significant gains in 2006, both in terms of tonnage and the quality of our facilities and services. Our current success, however, only underscores more dramatically the need to get the Delaware River dredged to 45 feet. If we are able to post our current successes without the deep water we need, one can only imagine the jobs and economic growth we’ll be able to contribute to our region once we accomplish our channel-deepening project. “And for those critics of channel deepening who say that our current successes demonstrate that the Port doesn’t need deeper water to get ahead, I respectfully say that those critics don’t know what they are talking about. Our current statistics and our higher cargo levels are a wake-up call that ships are getting bigger and more cargo will be moving through the ports that can handle it. If we don’t deepen our channel to handle the bigger ships and their dramatically bigger cargoes, other ports will happily accommodate those vessels.” The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning throughout the port district. PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users. Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania. PRPA’s 2006 cargo statistics were compiled by PRPA’s Strategic Planning Department. PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL PORT AUTHORITY
ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTS Philadelphia, February 27, 2007… James T. McDermott, Jr., Executive Director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA), is pleased to announce the significant expansion of two major container services at PRPA’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, the Port of Philadelphia’s largest and busiest facility. Effective March, 2007, Hamburg Sud’s “Trident Service”, which services ports in Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and the U.S. East Coast, will increase its calls at Packer Avenue Marine Terminal from fortnightly to weekly. This tremendously successful service has been a mainstay at the facility since February 2006, and the new weekly frequency is coming about due to Hamburg Sud’s adding two vessels to the service’s rotation. “Hamburg Sud’s Trident Service has been an extremely important addition to the Port of Philadelphia’s roster of services,” said PRPA Director of Marketing Sean Mahoney. “Since its start in 2006, it not only bolstered our connections with Australia and New Zealand, but gave the Port a direct connection to ports in Europe for the first time since the 1980s. The service’s new weekly frequency is indeed great news for all the shippers who regularly make use of this excellent service.” In addition, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) recently added a Montevideo port call to its busy East Coast of South America Service, another successful service at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. MSC is the second largest steamship line in the world and its East Coast of South America Service has been calling the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal since mid-2006. “We are proud to have MSC as a partner,” said Mr. Mahoney, “and we’re extremely pleased that the new Montevideo port call will improve an already strong MSC East Coast of South America service here at the Port.” The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning in the port district. PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users. Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania. PRPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JAMES
T. McDERMOTT, JR. Philadelphia, January 29, 2007 - The Traffic Club of Philadelphia, one of the oldest transportation clubs in the United States, selected James T. McDermott, Jr., Executive Director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, as its “2007 Transportation Person of the Year” at its 99th Annual Dinner Meeting earlier this month. Upon receiving his award in front of several hundred attendees at the Tuesday, January 23 dinner at the Marriott Hotel at the Philadelphia International Airport, Mr. McDermott said, “It is truly an honor to be recognized by the many, many transportation professionals that make up the Traffic Club of Philadelphia, and I will always cherish this award. It is also gratifying to know that all of you will stand with me as we address the challenges our industry now faces.”
“Make no mistake, we need 45 feet of water if we’re to remain a viable port well into the future,” said Mr. McDermott, who congratulated Governor Rendell and other elected officials for aggressively fighting for the deepening project. “The ships are getting bigger, and other ports are doing what they need to do to accommodate them. We have to follow suit. We must all work together, public and private entities alike, Pennsylvania and New Jersey businesses alike, to finally bring this absolutely necessary project to fruition. Our future depends on it.” Speaking about his other concern, Mr. McDermott said, “Casinos and other recreational uses of valuable waterfront lands concerns me greatly, too. Such uses don’t fulfill the potential of our great waterfront, and could seriously impact our ongoing maritime operations. In particular, I’m worried about the major congestion that will result from thousands of cars and busses visiting gaming parlors and other entertainment venues on the waterfront. One of the major selling points of this port is how efficiently trucks and trains move in and out of our facilities, speeding cargo to its final destination. I don’t want to lose that advantage. Like the channel deepening initiative, this is another area where we must all work together, reminding our elected officials and civic planners about the priorities of the Delaware River waterfront. We all know what’s desirable and what’s not desirable for our valuable waterfront lands.” Outgoing Traffic Club of Philadelphia President Joseph A. Lo Castro, Director of Sales at H&M International Transportation, and 2007 President-Elect Marylou Robinson, Senior Account Executive at CSX Intermodal, both expressed their satisfaction at Mr. McDermott’s selection as 2007 Transportation Person of the Year, as did PRPA Director of Strategic Planning and Traffic Club Board Member Nicholas Walsh, who officially introduced Mr. McDermott that evening. James. T. McDermott, Jr. was appointed Executive Director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority by the PRPA Board of Directors on May 13, 1994. Prior to that, upon joining the agency in 1991, Mr. McDermott served as the Authority’s Chief Counsel. During his tenure, Mr. McDermott has presided over an expansion of the Port of Philadelphia’s physical infrastructure and cargo base. He has developed and implemented a capital program that, to date, has invested over $75 million for the expansion and enhancement of the Port of Philadelphia’s facilities. In addition, he has directed an extensive international marketing program, which has made the Port of Philadelphia the gateway port in North America for a wide variety of cargoes. As Executive Director of Pennsylvania’s international seaport, Mr. McDermott has represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the local maritime community throughout the world and has accompanied the Governor of Pennsylvania (past and present holders of the office) on trade missions to South America, the Far East, and Australia. The Traffic Club of Philadelphia was founded in 1908. Its membership is comprised of representatives from industry, railroads, motor carriers, freight forwarders, airlines, steamship lines, public agencies involved in transportation, and other concerns. The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA)
is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged
with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly
owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia,
as well as strategic planning in the port district. PRPA works with
its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities,
and to market those facilities to prospective port users. Port cargoes
and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of
direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout
Pennsylvania. PHILADELPHIA REGIONAL PORT AUTHORITY
RENEWS SUCCESSFUL INTERMODAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM Philadelphia, January 10, 2007 - James T. McDermott, Jr., Executive Director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is pleased to announce that the PRPA Board of Directors recently renewed the authority’s successful Intermodal Incentive Program and also improved the program in key areas. In particular, effective immediately, participating ocean carriers that utilize PRPA marine facilities and any of the class-one railroads in the port district for the movement of their containers will receive a $50.00 per container incentive, a substantial increase compared to the $25.00 per container incentive previously offered. “We’re one of the few ports in the country with service by three class-one railroads, and the Intermodal Incentive Program has been a valuable tool to encourage worldwide ocean carriers to sample our port and our excellent rail connections,” said Mr. McDermott. “Now, with an enhanced incentive and other new benefits, carriers will be especially encouraged to see for themselves why Philadelphia is second to none when it comes to intermodal efficiency.” Three class-one rail lines service the Port of Philadelphia: Norfolk Southern, CP Rail, and CSX. These rail carriers provide on-dock or near-dock service at all PRPA maritime facilities and continually improve their rail services in the port district. In addition to increasing the financial incentive from $25.00 to $50.00 per container, previous “benchmark” guarantees on the part of participating carriers have been removed. Now, all containerized cargo loaded to or discharged from vessels calling at PRPA maritime facilities and utilizing a rail intermodal move is eligible for the incentive. “In comparison to neighboring ports, Philadelphia has an abundant supply of rail access in close proximity to our marine terminals, said PRPA Director of Marketing Sean Mahoney. “This program, which is now even more attractive than it was before, will help us highlight that fact.” Those interested in learning more about PRPA’s innovative Intermodal Incentive Program should contact PRPA’s Marketing Department at (215) 426-2600. Mr. Mahoney and PRPA’s Marketing Representatives are ready to discuss all aspects of this exciting program, including its scope, eligibility requirements, and structure. The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning in the port district. PRPA works with its terminal operators to modernize, expand, and improve its facilities, and to market those facilities to prospective port users. Port cargoes and the activities they generate are responsible for thousands of direct and indirect jobs in the Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania. PRPA’s Intermodal Incentive Program is funded by an appropriation from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
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Authority,
is pleased to announce that Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC),
the second largest steamship line in the world and a regular user
of PRPA’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal since mid-2006, has
initiated a service between the Port of Philadelphia and several
major ports on the West Coast of South America.
Comparing
the resolution with New Jersey to a late-inning rally by the Philadelphia
Phillies, Senator Specter said, "Pennsylvania went head to
head with its critics in New Jersey, and Pennsylvania won. And I'm
here today to tell you that I'm still going to be doing my part
to get this project done."
“With
our agreement to move forward with dredging, Pennsylvania -- through
the PRPA -- is now prepared to begin an aggressive program of investment
in our ports,” said Governor Rendell. “We will partner with ports
to upgrade and expand existing facilities while also working to
attract long-term private investment from international shipping
lines and operators to develop our port and allow us to compete
on the world stage.”
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