The Port of Baltimore
From an ideal inland location to a transportation network that flows into America's heartland, the Port of Baltimore combines all the necessary physical advantages—along with an experienced, skilled labor force and a committed, supportive private sector—to service the world's needs. The Port of Baltimore is one of America's busiest international deepwater ports. Situated in the heart of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area—the fourth largest consumer market in the nation—the Port of Baltimore is the gateway between the nation and the international marketplace.
The Port of Baltimore is closer to the Midwest than any other Atlantic seaport. It prides itself on being one of the safest and most secure ports in the world. The Port is one of the leading ports in the U.S. for automobiles and Roll On/Roll Off (Ro/Ro) cargoes, offering specialized Ro/Ro services. Nearly 50 percent of the Ro/Ro cargo handled on the East Coast goes through Baltimore—more than double the next busiest port. The Port also has extremely modern container facilities as well as special break bulk facilities for steel, pulp, paper, ore and coal. Baltimore is one of only two Eastern U.S. ports where the main shipping channel reaches a depth of 50 feet (15.2 meters). Five public and twelve private terminals handle the Port's traffic.
The Port serves more than 70 ocean carriers whose vessels make nearly 2,300 annual port visits. It is the largest automobile exporter in the country, the second largest automobile importer, and the 13th largest container port. The Port of Baltimore ranks 12th nationally based on foreign cargo value ($41.9 billion in 2007), and 13th based on foreign cargo volume (30.8 million tons).
Along the Port's 45-mile long shoreline are multitudes of modern public and private cargo terminals that handle everything from bulk raw materials to finished goods. Other major characteristics of the Port include a channel 50 feet deep and 800 feet wide. In addition, 23 million square feet of warehousing, nearly 12 million cubic feet of cold storage, and 2.7 million bushels of grain storage are available.
The Port of Baltimore serves as a magnet for intermodal cargo as the closest East Coast port to America's industrial center. CSX Intermodal and Norfolk Southern both maintain intermodal facilities that connect Baltimore with key U.S. markets. Every Port of Baltimore marine terminal is within one traffic light of an interchange connecting to I-95 and I-70, the north-south and east-west cargo throughways to the important Midwest and East Coast consumer markets. The Port is also just a short distance from I-83 and an easy connection to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Within an overnight drive of Baltimore, businesses connect with one-third of the nation's population and manufacturing base.
For further information about the Port of Baltimore contact the Maryland Port Administration at (410) 385-4444, toll-free at (800) 638-7519, or at www.mpa.state.md.us .
Port of Salisbury (Wicomico County)
- Second largest port in Maryland
- 150-foot wide channel
- 14-foot deep mean tide from the Chesapeake Bay to Salisbury
- More than $200 million in goods transported annually consisting of grain, petroleum, and building aggregates
- Primary barge companies are Vane Bros. (Philadelphia) and Allied (Norfolk)
