Ports America starts Bayonne ro/ro operation

Ports America has begun operations at a new roll-on/roll-off terminal in Bayonne, N.J.

Stephen Edwards, president and chief executive of the stevedoring company, said the terminal will be used primarily for export vehicles, largely used automobiles bound for Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Both Hoegh Autoliners and Grimaldi will use the terminal, which is located on property that was formerly part of the Military Ocean Terminal Bayonne, but which was sold to the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Agency in 1999. The agency is developing it into a mixture of industrial and residential properties.

Originally, Bayonne had agreed to sell the portion now being used as a ro/ro terminal to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for $50 million, then reneged on the deal and sold it to Ports America, when the stevedoring company offered $90 million.

The port authority sued Bayonne for backing out of the deal, but in July a court ruled in Ports America's favor. The port authority has appealed the case and Edwards said a hearing on the appeal is scheduled for next month.

Meanwhile, longshoremen are already working at the property, and the first Hoegh ship was expected this week or next, and Grimaldi is to start using the service in November.

Both companies are former customers of Northeast Auto Terminal, which is located on the other side of the Port Jersey channel. The port authority is planning to develop that property into a container terminal. 

Source: American Shipper