Post by tollticket on May 1, 2009 19:43:16 GMT -5
Biggest Cargo Shipper Renews Contract With Port Reporting
Suzanne Collins BALTIMORE (WJZ) ¯
Longshoremen at Maryland's port are feeling better about the economy.
CBS
Longshoremen at Maryland's port are feeling better about the economy Thursday as the biggest shipper of container cargo agrees to renew its contract at Seagirt Marine Terminal.
Suzanne Collins explains it means jobs will remain at the waterfront.
Not only longshoremen depend on business at Maryland's port, so do warehousemen, truckers and brokers.
The governor signed an agreement Thursday with Mediterranean Shipping Company that will keep that business here for years to come.
"This is the largest container guarantee in the port's history. Over a six-year period, there'll be 600,000 containers moving through the port and annual revenue coming to the port, $30 million annually," said John White, executive director of Baltimore's port.
The Italian company and the governor signed the contract right on the docks as longshoreman watched. Now their jobs are more secure.
"Anything can happen any time down here, here today gone tomorrow. I've been around here through tough times, but this signing here should get us over the hump," said longshoreman Donald Conrad.
"Very much important we keep our jobs here at the waterfront," said Henry James.
When Seagirt Marine Terminal first opened in 1988 it was the first company here. They moved that year about 4,500 containers, but last year it was 30 times that.
MSC's chairman says it has been surviving the recession better than other shippers.
"We've been growing in spite of the economy the way it is. We've been working hard, we do not lay up ships. We do not lay off anybody and on top of this we are starting two new services recently," said Captain Nicola for Arena Mediterranean Shipping.
The state says the new deal with Mediterranean means 628 jobs preserved, along with $25 million in additional wages. There will be $14 million in tax revenue coming in for six more years.
The port also signed new contracts with a smaller container, a paper manufacturer, earlier this year and there are more pleasure cruises scheduled.
Suzanne Collins BALTIMORE (WJZ) ¯
Longshoremen at Maryland's port are feeling better about the economy.
CBS
Longshoremen at Maryland's port are feeling better about the economy Thursday as the biggest shipper of container cargo agrees to renew its contract at Seagirt Marine Terminal.
Suzanne Collins explains it means jobs will remain at the waterfront.
Not only longshoremen depend on business at Maryland's port, so do warehousemen, truckers and brokers.
The governor signed an agreement Thursday with Mediterranean Shipping Company that will keep that business here for years to come.
"This is the largest container guarantee in the port's history. Over a six-year period, there'll be 600,000 containers moving through the port and annual revenue coming to the port, $30 million annually," said John White, executive director of Baltimore's port.
The Italian company and the governor signed the contract right on the docks as longshoreman watched. Now their jobs are more secure.
"Anything can happen any time down here, here today gone tomorrow. I've been around here through tough times, but this signing here should get us over the hump," said longshoreman Donald Conrad.
"Very much important we keep our jobs here at the waterfront," said Henry James.
When Seagirt Marine Terminal first opened in 1988 it was the first company here. They moved that year about 4,500 containers, but last year it was 30 times that.
MSC's chairman says it has been surviving the recession better than other shippers.
"We've been growing in spite of the economy the way it is. We've been working hard, we do not lay up ships. We do not lay off anybody and on top of this we are starting two new services recently," said Captain Nicola for Arena Mediterranean Shipping.
The state says the new deal with Mediterranean means 628 jobs preserved, along with $25 million in additional wages. There will be $14 million in tax revenue coming in for six more years.
The port also signed new contracts with a smaller container, a paper manufacturer, earlier this year and there are more pleasure cruises scheduled.