b'28American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comSouth Jerseys Port of Salempart of a developing DE River wind-energy logistics chainRedevelopment and upgraded rail connectivity are a good start, but the one-time fishing harbor needs more funding to bring a regional vision to fruition.By Peter Buxbaum, AJOTTenyearsago,officialscontainers of perishables andfacturingfacilitiesclosed. of Salem County, New Jersey,consumer goods annually onThere was some agricultural thoughtitwisetoinvest$40a weekly service from Salembusiness that was handled by milliontoupgradetheSalemto Hamilton, Bermuda. U.S.the rail line and the hope was RailLine,acounty-ownedConcrete barges 400,000 tonsthat it would increase but it shortlineservingthesmallayearoflocallyquarriedreally hasnt.southernNewJerseyPortofsandforconstructionproj-Salem,andsecuredfundingects in the New York metro-for that purpose from the Statepolitan area, a volume that is of New Jersey and the Unitedexpectedtogrowasspend-States Department of Transpor- ingfromthefederalmulti-tation (USDOT). The idea wastrillion-dollarinfrastructure tostimulateeconomicactiv- program starts to kick in.ity in an area with an erodingBuildingthe$300mil-industrial base, notably in glasslionwindportsevenmiles production.Upuntilrecently,downtheroadfromSalem those investments might haverepresents a significant expan-beenconsideredabust,butsion opportunity for the port. recent developments in the bur- MajorconstructionactivitiesBrendan Dugan, assistant executive geoningNewJerseyoffshoreat the New Jersey Wind Port,director SJPCChristopher Dillon, vice president of global procurement at Perkasie,windindustryindicatetheylocated on an artificial islandWith the upgrade in place, PA-headquartered TransGlobal Foods Inc. and president of the Worldcould start to pay dividends in the Delaware River, beganSalemcanboastofsome Trade Association of Philadelphia and its Ship Philly First initiative, happilyiftheportcanmakefurtherin December 2021 and opera- impressiverailconnectiv-discusses benefits of the Port of Philadelphia as he strikes a pose withimprovements. tions are scheduled to begin byity,especiallyforasmall pallets of broccoli florets imported from Poland.(Photo special for AJOT) ThePortofSalem,aearly 2024. The Port of Salemport.TheSalemRailLine one-time fishing facility thatfigures to expand its portfolioruns19-milesnortheastto TransGlobal Foods executivecurrentlyhandlescontainersto support the development ofSwedesborowhereitcon-and dry bulk cargoes, is alsothe New Jersey offshore windnectstoConrail,which,in touts benefits of thethe recipient of a 2021 U.S.energy industry by accommo- turn, hooks up with the Class DepartmentofTransporta- dating offshore wind compo- IcarriersNorfolkSouthern Port of Philadelphia tiongrantof$9million nentmanufacturingfacilitiesand CSX Transportation and matchedwithanadditionalandwitharail-to-bargeser- the continental rail network. By Paul Scott Abbott, AJOT $6millionfromtheSouthvicetosupplycomponentsAlsoinSwedesboro,short-JerseyPortCorporationtotothewindport.Theportsline operator SMS Rail Lines As vice president of globalInearly2020,Trans- lengthenawharf,demolishimprovedrailconnectionsserves the Pureland Industrial procurementforTransGlobalGloballeadership,recogniz- oldstructures,anddosomecould play prominently in thatComplex, a 3,000-acre facil-Foods Inc., Christopher Dillon isingrestaurantswereclosingpavingandfencing,asparteffort,finallyjustifyingtheity that is home to over 120 sold on the can-do approachandcateringwascomingtoof a larger plan to redevelop$40 million investment. companies,manyofwhich ofthePortofPhiladelphia,ahaltbutpeopleobviouslythe port. These improvementsTherailsystemattheutilizelocalrail/truckinter-making him an ideal ambas- would continue to eat, shiftedwill be of use in current portPort of Salem has been disusedmodalcapabilitiestodis-sador for PhilaPort in his dualits business model and beganoperationsbut the port willovertheyears,saidBren- tribute goods to New Jersey, roles as president of the Worldsellingdirectlytogroceryneed more if it is to play indan Dugan, assistant executivePennsylvania, Delaware, and Trade Association of Philadel- storeswhileloadinguponthe wind-energy game.directoroftheSouthJerseyMaryland.phia and its Ship Philly Firstvolumes before ocean freightPortCorporation(SJPC).ItNowthattheporthas initiative. ratestotallyskyrocketed.T he$300 M iLLionn eW wasupgradedbasedonthereceivedgrantsforitsrevi-Indeed,DillonfirmlyOnce restaurateurs and cater- J eRSeyW indP oRTdesiretogenerateeconomictalization,Duganviews believes PhilaPort to be inte- ersresumedoperations,theCurrent port users includedevelopment in Salem, whichSalems rail prowess as a key gral to growth of TransGlobal(BENEFITScontinued onBermudaInternationalShip- experienced a spike in unem- (CHAINcontinued on Foods,whichisbasedinpage 30) ping Ltd., which carries 13,000ployment when glass manu- page 32)PerkasieinsuburbanBucks County.Thecompanyspe-cializesinimportingfrozen fruits, vegetables and french fries from a diverse supplier base spanning Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. FUMIGATIONTheproductivesynergy betweenportandproduce purveyor has never rung truerYOUR TRUSTED PARTNERthan in the present pandemic- THE IMPORT/EXPORT EXPERT YOU NEED.impactedsupplychainenvi-ronment,meshingwellwith theupbeatphilosophyofaQUALITYtruefamilybusiness.Chris-topher Dillons father, PatrickOur tenured, licensed, and experienced field teams take pride in theirDillon, is president of Trans- work and are dedicated to doing it right the first time on every project.Global,whilehismother, Patricia Dillon, is the 22-year- SECURITY & SAFETYold firms director of sales and operations.Adecades-longWe are the only company that guards our fumigation jobs 24/7 duringfriend,JimGuenther,istheoperations. Our operational standards exceed regulatory compliance. companys director of imports and logistics. COMPLIANCEWhere theres chaos, theres opportunity, and we have defi- We know the rules and regulations and for your safety and ours, we are nitelyfoundtheopportunitycommitted to following each requirement to the tee. You dont need to during this time, Christopherconcern yourselflet us handle it.Dillonsaid,citing40percent growth in TransGlobals busi- westernfumigation.com | 610.595.2100ness over the past two years,[email protected] since the COVID-19 pandemic first struck.AJOT Del River Ports Edition Ad FINAL 2.1.22.indd 1 2/1/2022 9:26:08 AM'