While 2002 handed hard economic news to much of Maine, the port of Portland remained robust, reported Jeff Monroe, Director of Ports and Transportation for Portland. Monroe delivered his report on the State of the Port 2003 at Portland’s Propeller Club in early January.
Portland’s seaport continues to be one of the few U.S. ports able to cover all of its operating and capital costs. Seaport management generates $3 million in revenue, and returns $500,000 to Portland’s general fund budget.
Monroe credits diversity as key to the port’s health. In 2002 the strength of cargo activity, oil imports and marine industry more than offset the decline in fish landings.
In what he has made an annual event, Monroe reviewed port activities including domestic and international ferry and cruise ship traffic, fish landings, oil imports, cargo traffic and marine industrial construction.
Liquid bulk tonnage (oil) increased 10 percent in 2002. Oil imports constitute the lion’s share of “through” tonnage in Portland harbor, last year totaling more than 28 million tons. That’s the equivalent of over 178 million barrels.
Dry bulk cargo tonnage increased 8.75 percent, to 800,000 tons. The International Marine Terminal moved 2,331 loaded containers – imports and exports – marking a growth of 43 percent over 2001. Over 140 Maine importers and exporters go through the International Marine Terminal, connecting Maine to the global marketplace.
Cianbro Corp.’s contract to complete two large oil rigs on the former Bath Iron Works site currently employs over 900 on the waterfront (WWF April 2002). Known as the Amethyst Project, the $100 million venture will create $1 million gross revenue for Portland.
On the downside, the Portland Fish Exchange saw landings drop from 25 million pounds in 2001 to 18 million pounds. Port-wide landings also fell 10 percent to 50 million pounds, worth $42 million.
Monroe said he believed that the decrease in landings reflected new restrictions on days at sea for fishermen.
Overall, Portland’s fishing and fish processing industries have an economic impact of over $400 million and represent more than 1,000 jobs. Twenty-one fish processing companies work on Portland’s wharves. Over 100 fishing boats make Portland their home port.
International passengers, numbering over 206,000, had an economic impact of $40 million. Forty-one thousand passengers came on 43 cruise ships, roughly 10 percent fewer passengers than 2001. Monroe pointed out that cruise ships’ presence is relatively new, and the number of cruise passengers is up 300 percent since 1999.
M/S SCOTIA PRINCE carried the other 165,000 passengers along with 30,000 vehicles.
Closer to home, Casco Bay Lines ferried 963,000 passengers and 25,754 vehicles in 2002, a small increase over 2001.
The positive numbers, Monroe said, reflect Portland’s investments in its port. Since 1999, International Marine Terminal (IMT) improvements, including a new crane, attracted a second container carrier.
More investment is in the works. In the next few years Portland’s waterfront will see a new international passenger facility ($14 million), an expanded Casco Bay Lines Terminal and roadway ($2.5 million), IMT conversion for cargo operations ($7.5 million), and Maine State Pier improvements ($5 million).
The city is working on plans to develop land east of the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal. New proposed zoning came before the Planning Department in January, the result of more than two years of meetings that gathered input from businesses, residents and planners.
Portland’s steady gain in port activities has brought about a resurgence in its standing. Today, thanks primarily to its oil pipeline, Portland ranks as New England’s largest tonnage seaport and the largest foreign inbound transit tonnage port in the United States. It is also New England’s second largest fishing port and the 20th largest fishing port in the United States.