NY-NJ records 16pc increase in container volume in 2010

THE Port of New York and New Jersey has posted a 16 per cent year-on-year container volume to 5,292,020 TEU in 2010, up from the 4,561,527 TEU handled in 2009.


Loaded containers amounted to 4,097,420 TEU, with loaded imports totalling 2,579,093 TEU with exports coming to 1,518,327 TEU. Imports grew 14.9 per cent over 2009's volume, while exports were up nine per cent.


The port handled 376,770 containers through its ExpressRail system, up 22.3 per cent year on year. The port authority said it has invested US$600 million over the past decade to build ExpressRail facilities at its major cargo terminals in both New York and New Jersey.


NY-NJ general cargo volume, according to data from the US Bureau of Census, increased to 32.2 million tonnes, compared to 28.2 million tonnes in 2009. General cargo imports totalled 21 million tonnes, an increase of 14.3 per cent. General cargo exports rose by 13.9 per cent, from 9.8 million tonnes in 2009 to 11.2 million tonnes in 2010.


Total bulk cargo was down one per cent to 49.2 million tonnes in 2010.


Port authorities said in a statement that they anticipate the port complex to continue to enjoy "modest annual cargo growth," and they are "making the necessary infrastructure investments to support it".


They said they plan to invest $283 million in 2011 to upgrade the port road network, enhance the existing ExpressRail system and continue the programme to deepen the port's channels to 50 feet (15.2 metres). The engineering and design work for a project to raise the roadway on the Bayonne Bridge to accommodate larger ships after the Panama Canal expansion is completed in 2014, has also been started.


Port authorities said the development of the Global Container Terminal in Jersey City is also continuing, in an effort to accommodate future growth, as is work to upgrade and expand the capacity of the cross-harbour rail float barge operation between Brooklyn and Jersey City. There are also plans to develop the Greenville Yards in Jersey City.


"However, the limited increase in revenue to the port authority generated by the increase in cargo volumes does not cover the costs of the port's annual state of good repair, nor does it cover all of the capital improvements needed to maintain the port's competitive position," the statement said.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)