The Evergreen Triton, capable of handling 14,424 TEU containers, arrived on May 24 at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore, becoming the largest container ship to ever visit Maryland. The supersized ship called at the Port of Baltimore because of the Port’s infrastructure that enables it to handle some of the largest ships in the world.
Previously, the largest container ship to visit the Port of Baltimore was the 11,000-TEU container ship Gunde Maersk, which arrived at the Port of Baltimore in October. Because of a public-private partnership between the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) and Ports America Chesapeake, the Port of Baltimore is one of the few ports on the East Coast to have a 50-foot deep channel and a 50-foot deep berth necessary to accommodate mega-ships.
Commenting on the occasion, Governor Larry Hogan said:
Thanks to Maryland’s investment in a 50-foot berth, every year we are seeing larger and larger container ships choosing the Port of Baltimore. Maryland truly is open for business. The Port of Baltimore fuels the state’s economy and supports thousands of jobs throughout the freight industry
In December, MDOT MPA and Ports America Chesapeake announced a $32.7 million project to establish a second 50-foot-deep container berth at Seagirt Marine Terminal. Once completed, the second berth will enable the Port of Baltimore to handle two supersized container ships at the same time. Construction on the new berth is expected to start by the end of 2019. The berth is planned to start operations in the beginning of 2021.
We’re thrilled to see the TRITON here in Baltimore after coming through the expanded Panama Canal. The partnership between the Port of Baltimore, Ports America Chesapeake and Evergreen will continue to allow the world’s largest container ships to deliver the goods and commodities that power America’s economy through Maryland
mentioned Bayard Hogans, Vice President, Ports America Chesapeake.
