Kopp Sees Big Bucks, Guv’s Backing For Port In Budget

The continued support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was lauded this week by Philadelphia Regional Port Authority Chairman Charles G. Kopp, Esq., as he noted, “Early this year, the Office of the Governor authorized $25 million for deferred facility maintenance projects throughout the Port, following on the heels of the $25 million released for that purpose for FY 2011/12.”

He added continued support from the Commonwealth has helped move the Port to a new growth period, which it is experiencing despite the economic recession curtailing shipping imports and exports.

Chairman Kopp reminded area residents and the business community at large that, due to the continuing strong support of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Port of Philadelphia is able to handle the continued increases in cargo. He noted port tonnage has gone up to 4,418,674 metric tons handled at the Port of Philadelphia in 2012 compared to the 4,001,759 tons logged in 2011.

Kopp said the maritime facilities of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority showed a healthy 10.42% gain in cargoes handled last year. “While the national and world economy still challenges our efforts in many ways, our most-recent annual cargo statistics again demonstrate the Port of Philadelphia is on the right track,” said Chairman Kopp. “We see even greater growth for the future.”

“I think it is important at this time,” he said, “to remind the public that high-profile initiatives like the Delaware River Channel Deepening Project and the new Southport Marine Terminal, vitally important as they are, aren’t the only port projects benefitting from strong Commonwealth support. This fact is no more apparent than in the area of capital investment.

“Since 2011, under Gov. Corbett, $120 million has been delegated, released, or is about to be released for a variety of port investment. To give some perspective, these are funds in addition to the $50.8 million the Commonwealth has released for channel deepening.

“Capital investment since 2011 has included substantial maintenance to the Port’s facilities and infrastructure, including repairs and enhancements to the Port’s fenders, pilings, fire suppression systems, roofs, and paving.

“The levels of investment have been impressive. All PRPA facilities have benefitted from the Port’s capital program, with the following highlights standing out: PRPA’s Forest Products Distribution Center is undergoing more than $16 million in maintenance and investment; Pier 82 is receiving more than $9 million for same; Tioga Marine Terminal is benefitting from more than $20 million; and the Tioga Liquid Bulk Terminal has already received more than $6 million in investment. “Substantial funds were also used for projects at Pier 84 (almost $5 million) and Pier 122 (almost $1 million), as well as crane maintenance throughout the Port (over $250,000).

The budget supports maintenance dredging of PRPA’s channel and berths, another vital activity made possible by the Governor’s $120 million capital budget, designating $9 million for that purpose.

“A chief beneficiary of PRPA’s capital program is the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, the Port’s largest and busiest facility, which is anticipated to receive upwards of $50 million in facility investments. With our strong reputation in the handling of cargoes moving between Philadelphia and Puerto Rico, I know we’ll do a great job for Horizon Lines.”

Horizon Lines is touting a 3.5-day transit time between Philadelphia and Puerto Rico, with a vessel departing Philadelphia every Thursday. Horizon Lines handles a variety of containerized cargoes, among them general, refrigerated, and pharmaceutical cargoes. In its own statement about the new service, Horizon Lines noted that, among other reasons, it chose the Port of Philadelphia due to its strategic location; fast transit times; fast turn-around times; comprehensive rail and highway network; expedited inspections  and on and off-site warehousing.

“This new service is a home run for the Port of Philadelphia and the region,” said Tom Holt, Jr., chief executive of Holt Logistics Corp., whose Greenwich Terminals LLC operates PRPA’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. The company maintains a fleet of 14 fully Jones Act-qualified vessels and operates five port terminals in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Chairman Kopp noted, “Since PRPA’s creation in 1990 as an independent state agency to run the Port of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth has been very supportive of our efforts here. Gov. Rendell has always been a strong supporter of the Philadelphia Port and Governor Corbett and his administration have continued this support in a grand fashion.

“In addition to his support of capital projects for the Port, Gov. Corbett advanced millions of dollars to allow work to continue on our 45-foot channel deepening project, which encouraged the Federal Government to start funding its share of the project.

“Also, I should acknowledge the critical bi-partisan support of our congressional delegation, especially Sens. Robert Casey and Pat Toomey; Congressmen Bob Brady and Pat Meehan; and numerous state officials, especially longtime project champion, State Rep. Bill Keller. They were all integral partners in the success of the project, as well.”

Continuing on the topic, Chairman Kopp said, “The Port expects thousands of good-paying jobs to come to Philadelphia once the deepening of the Delaware River is completed. The future for the Port looks extremely bright as an economic engine for the production of good-paying jobs for the working families of Pennsylvania.

“The establishment of new funding streams is another way Gov. Corbett may want to assist the Port’s efforts,” Chairman Kopp continued. “Gov. Corbett has been working with the legislature to develop innovative, more efficient ways to fund the Port in the future, such as the development of a ‘Multi-modal’ fund that could fall under the Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation. This could provide regular, more predictable funding to the Port, while ultimately lowering costs to PRPA and its terminal operators.”

Chairman Kopp concluded, “But it’s been our capital program where the state’s commitment has truly stood out. $120 million is being spent to make structural improvements, improve safety, expand rail infrastructure, add on-dock storage, retrofit our cranes, the list goes on and on.

“And I want to add one important fact: Like our deepening project, if the Commonwealth didn’t see capital funding as an investment that will pay off, we wouldn’t have seen a dollar of those funds. Our capital program will result in continued support by the Port’s current customers and the attraction of new carriers, who will bring new labor-intensive cargoes to the Port of Philadelphia. We’ve already seen this when state support helped bring Hyundai and Kia here in 2010, and I’m positive it will continue to bring new carriers and new business to the planned port expansion at Southport, to the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal (e.g., Horizon) and to our other fine facilities in the near future.”

Urban Engineers’ Roy E. Denmark, Jr., indicated the Corps of Engineers has completed the third contract for the deepening of the Delaware River to 45 feet, extending 12 miles from the Walt Whitman Bridge downstream to southwest of the Philadelphia  International Airport. Contract Four has begun between Artificial Island, N.J. and the border of New Castle/Kent Cos. in Delaware.

The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority is an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania charged with the management, maintenance, marketing, and promotion of publicly-owned port facilities along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, as well as strategic planning throughout the port district.

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