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Featured Port somewhere. The demand is in developing countries where in power packs to increase that capacity. Looking to the fu- more income is now available and people want and need ture (and eyeing all that agriculture output being shipped else- meat.” As the number two turkey producer in the country, where), Clark told listeners; “We have the capacity to increase

North Carolina is notably home to the largest turkey and those fxed plugs within our physical footprint. We’re looking chicken processing facilities in the United States, within a carefully at what future volume will require in terms of capac- stone’s throw of Wilmington. ity and we will grow that capacity accordingly.”

Today, North Carolina poultry represents $545 million in 15 reachstackers on site (and more on order) accommodates exports, balanced by $662 million in pork exports. Not all of 10,000 TEU sized vessels. Clark adds, “That restriction – if you that is shipped through Wilmington. Local port offcials hope will – still represents a very good sized vessel – it is based on the that’s about to change. With a good percentage of those com- turning basin in the channel. So the further expansion of the turn- panies are located within 50 miles of the port of Wilmington, ing basin will help the port handle larger tonnage in the future.”

Brown asks, “How much of an advantage would it be if they At the same time, Clark knows that one of the biggest positives didn’t have to send it to Norfolk or Charleston.” for the port today is its highly touted crane productivity and quick

Central to all of these efforts is the importance of being able gate turnaround times. Those metrics have to be maintained.

to cater to shippers who require climate controlled transport – “Berth 9 today is our big vessel berth with those four post the cold chain. Poultry and pork aren’t the only products that panamax cranes. Eventually, berths 7 and 8 will become our need refrigeration. As much as 65% of local sweet potato and lead ship berths. We’re already seeing elsewhere on the East blueberry exports head for Europe. If that sounds like small Coast, 14,000 TEU ships in various ports. For us to remain com- potatoes, consider that local sweet potato production has more petitive, we need to be able to handle those vessels in the future. than doubled in the recent years and that North Carolina pro- Today, we see ships from 500 to 1100 feet LOA. There is a mix duces over half of the sweet potatoes in the country. and all of those are equally import to us,” explained Clark.

Reefer carriers are critical to this trade. As overseas com- The frst expansion of the turning basin was completed in petition also grows, output intended for export needs to be July of 2016. An ongoing engineering review of the turning moved as quickly and as cheaply as is possible. basin, to see if it can be expanded further to handle those 14,000 TEU ships, is underway. Well before that, new rails

Infrastructure 101: Maintain & Increase Effciencies will allow super panamax cranes to travel the full length of the

As the gateway expands, the need to serve all niches, and container piers. The container yard – currently a seven acre not just global markets, is paramount. To that end, the state area – is being refurbished and better confgured to handle has rail issues that NC Port offcials are working hard to ad- the additional freight volume that the port expects will come.

dress. It wasn’t too long ago that much of the state’s grain feed came in from Brazil. It wasn’t high domestic Midwest grain Today & Tomorrow prices that were the culprit; it was high prices on the railroads. For what it lacks in size and cargo volume, Wilmington more

Infrastructure does matter. than makes up for that in terms of effciency. Its 44 moves per

Rail & highway access will also be key. Already enjoying hour average in terms of crane operations is second to none on low congestion, the future growth of the East-West I-74 cor- the East and Gulf Coasts. Clark insists that it is the most ef- ridor headed for the state’s biggest city, Charlotte, will be fcient port on the east coast for truckers and in November, he important. In the meantime, an ambitious $200 million in- told MLPro, “Truck turnaround are always extremely impor- frastructure improvement project is well underway. Largely tant – a driver can do a full turn – in and out – in 20 minutes. thanks to the North Carolina General Assembly who appro- Trucking companies serving this market are assured of being priated funds (recently increased to $45 million annually) for able to make multiple moves daily. Full moves are 32 minutes upgrades to the ports; both Morehead City and Wilmington’s on average. We’re effcient; we’re quick, but most importantly, physical footprint is on the move. safe in handling and moving that cargo.”

Brian Clark, NC Ports Chief Operating Offcer, put the Just 25 miles inland from Cape Fear, shippers enjoy quick port’s ambitious plans in perspective. At Wilmington alone, transits to and from the docks. Once alongside, dwell time for a 284 acre facility encompassing both general cargo and con- boxes isn’t typically a problem. In part, that’s because Wilm- tainer operations, the port boast 2,600 feet of container berths. ington has an adjacent property, just outside the main gates,

Today, the port can handle 750,000 TEU’s annually, but hasn’t where they store chassis.

reached full capacity yet. Nevertheless, NC Ports has no inten- What’s happening outside the gates is just as important as tion of sitting on its hands. anything they can do inside to improve effciencies. Within the

With refrigerated cargo capacity critical to the port’s future, last six months, four landmark events all point to what will the port has about 300 fxed plugs, and the capability to bring come next, starting with an impressive addition of a wide vari- 36 Maritime Logistics Professional November/December 2017 | |