New York 2010 throughput up 16%

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported that cargo volumes at the Port of New York and New Jersey rose 16 percent in 2010.


The numbers are an encouraging sign of growth but still have not risen to the peak cargo container traffic levels reported in 2007 before the global economic downturn.


During 2010, the Port of New York and New Jersey reported that total container traffic in the port was 5.2 million loaded and empty TEUs, compared to 4.56 million in 2009. The number is slightly below the 5.29 TEUs in 2007, which was an annual record for the port.


Over the long term, the port authority continues to project modest annual cargo growth at the Port of New York and New Jersey, and is making the necessary infrastructure investments to support that growth.


Despite the extremely competitive environment among ports on the East Coast and in other parts of the country, the port authority remains the largest port on the East Coast and the third largest in the United States behind Los Angeles and Long Beach.


The port handles approximately 31 percent of all East Coast cargo.


To meet the challenges of future growth, the port authority will invest US$283 million in 2011 to upgrade the port road network, enhance the existing ExpressRail system and continue its programme to deepen the port’s channels to 50 feet. The agency also has started the engineering and design work for a project to “raise the roadway” of the Bayonne Bridge to accommodate larger ships after the Panama Canal upgrades are completed in 2014.


The agency also is continuing the development of the Global Container Terminal in Jersey City to accommodate future growth, is upgrading and expanding the capacity of the cross-harbour rail float barge operation between Brooklyn and Jersey City, and also plans to develop the Greenville Yards in Jersey City.
(Source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com)