JUNE 2026 MARYLAND PORTS 27 From Baltimore to the World Since 1998 VIST US ON THE WEB www.cantonmaritime.com - Dry Bulk - Breakbulk - Project Cargo - Heavy Lift - 2 Deepdraft Marine Terminals - Direct Access to I-95 - Onsite Warehousing - World Class Supervision and Labor Baltimore, MD Sandusky, OH Stockton, CA Ask Us to Your Port The Unseen Infrastructure Understandably while dis- cussing port infrastructure and planning, the conversation cus- tomarily steers towards gantry cranes and other handling equip- ment that contribute to TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) counts. However, a great deal of a port’s infrastructure lies unseen. And like an iceberg the vast infrastructure below the surface underpins the entire enterprise. A critical piece of that unseen infrastructure is the ship channels and turning basins to the piers and the dredging that enables the channels to function. When asked about channels, dredging and other infrastruc- ture planning Daniels, Executive Director for the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), the authority overseeing the Port of Baltimore remarked, “Oftentimes when we talk about industrial development, the focus is on new cranes, it’s on new berth capacity. But we understand to utilize the cranes and utilize berth capacity to its highest expected use, we have to have the channels that are maintained so that we can make the promises to the carriers that we will have the depth necessary. Not only for their existing vessel rotations, but for those that they’re looking at in the future, which very well involve larger vessels.” Adding that, “I think what hap- pens is many ports, many organi- zations, overlook what’s below the water is … an expensive process. It is a long and complicated pro- cess to be able to get through to get your records of decision and the necessary permits. And certainly, the aspect of environmental stew- ardship and environmental sensi- tivity is something that’s taken into consideration during that process.” And the MPA’s role in over- seeing the well-being of the net- work of channels is more than that of an outsider. It is one of a stew- ard or administrator in partnership with other involved organizations including national, state, local governmental agencies, nonprof- its, community groups and busi- nesses entrusted with maintaining the region’s channels. New Sites for a New Future As Daniels explains, “When I take a look at dredging… we [MPA] manage the Dredge Material Management Program (DMMP) on behalf of the state [Maryland]. So, that gives us immediate access and knowl- edge in driving that program in cooperation with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). So, when we go through our (MPA) planning process, we have insight not only into the dredging operation — and it’s a 20-year look ahead.” That two-decade view is intricately woven into the Port’s own stra- tegic planning. “That [planning] takes into And Greco believes labor relations are now Baltimore’s strong point. “Management-labor rela- tions at the port are at a very good place. The STA is working closely with Scott Cowan, ILA- ACD Vice President and Presi- dent of ILA Local 333 as well as other ILA leadership on a regular basis. There is an overall align- ment on efforts to make the port a safe, efficient and attractive location for carriers and shippers to take advantage of and grow cargo. This was not always the case in Baltimore, and we are committed to continuing to work with the ILA to ensure overall progress in the port,” he said. As far as maintaining the current growth and sharpening efficiency, Greco said the STA is moving toward more technology improvements. “We have invested heavily in our Magnus dispatch system with improvements associated with transitioning the ILA dis- patch experience to mobile devise for improved perfor- mance and efficiency,” he said. “IT improvements also include strengthening our cyber security position from a hardware, train- ing and policy standpoint, as well as transitioning legacy sys- tems to cloud based servers. We also continue to have a strong focus on safety and training, in coordination with USMX, to make our work environment as safe as possible.” MPA’s Long-Range View The Maryland Port Admin- istration (MPA) is now preparing its long-range strategic plan in an effort to build on the current proj- ects and chart a course for the next generation. Richard Scher, Direc- tor of Communications for the MPA, said the plan will reflect the vision of the Port community. “Right now, we are finish- ing a strategic plan that will serve as a roadmap for our larger master vision plan. It will look at everything from growing our focused targeted commodities such as contain- ers, autos, forest products, roll on/roll off, and breakbulk, to increasing our land and stor- age, to being a good environ- mental steward,” Scher said. “It’s taking a look at how we want to grow as a port and properly adjust to the changes in our industry that will allow us to continue to accomplish our mission of bringing cargo through the Port of Baltimore and generating additional jobs for our state.” Dredging is crucial to the future of the Port of Baltimore and should be a big part of the strategic plan, said Frank J. Olszewski III, President of Beacon Stevedoring Corp., a non-union division of Rukert Terminals Corp. “At Rukert, we cannot over- emphasize the importance of dredging. It is critical for Bal- timore to maintain its 50-foot channel and develop new dredge disposal facilities that can reliably service the public and privately ter- minals while ultimately delivering a positive environmental impact,” he said. “We have full confidence in (MPA) Executive Director Jon- athan Daniels and his leadership team as they plan for the future of the Port of Baltimore.” Rukert is reinvesting in state- of-the-art equipment, Olszewski said. “Rukert’s conservative prin- cipals and philosophy of rein- vestment provide the flexibility to expand our capabilities as needed. A recent example of this commitment is the new Kobelco 275-ton crawler crane just pur- chased to support ongoing wind energy projects. Having the vision to reshape and reimag- ine our business as cargo and customers evolve will always be an important key to success, and the commitment to reinvest- ment will always help Rukert stand out from the rest,” he said. “Rukert’s cargo handling diversity: bulk, forest products, steels, metals, and projects, has been very important over the past year because we continue to see hesitation from shippers navigating the impact of tariffs and the war in the Middle East. While temporary windows of clarity are keeping some of these cargoes moving, it appears that the market is waiting for greater stability before returning to more normal trading patterns.” (USERS – continued from page 22) (PLANNING – continued on page 42) (PLANNING – continued from page 19)
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