Category : News

The South Jersey Port Corporation is pleased to announce the recent appointment of veteran engineer Chris Perks to the organization’s team. Perks was appointed as the Director of Engineering to support the agency’s growth strategy and continue to provide quality customer service for current and future tenants and customers. The appointment of Perks comes as the port closed on a record-breaking year for cargo handling and a flurry of capital projects, improvements, and milestones of the burgeoning offshore wind energy industry in South Jersey. Ensuring a strong leadership team has been a mission of Andrew Saporito, the agency’s Executive Director and CEO, who has assembled an experienced leadership team since first being appointed in 2019.

Perks has extensive experience in local public works engineering and construction markets and experience in project engineering related to design and construction of multi-disciplined large capital projects. He has previously and successfully participated in numerous capital improvement programs for a wide variety of clients, including many public and state agencies. In addition to his vast public experience, Perks was responsible for integrating and completing over sixty projects in Camden City, home to the port’s headquarters and Balzano and Broadway terminal facilities.

Perks will add value through his rich experience and prolific ability to direct all design, construction, and maintenance activities at the port. With a solid engineering skillset, Perks will be tasked with executing significant tenant improvements, capital projects, major operation works, and construction programs. Moreover, Perk’s expertise will allow the port to rely on his capabilities of capital program management, ensuring port facilities remain in good condition and meeting and exceeding expectations for efficient operations.

“SJPC has a long tradition of hard-working employees who go the extra mile for our customers. Ensuring our facilities are meeting standards and keeping up pace with our plans for growth is key to our continued success and customer satisfaction. Having Chris on the team is a critical part of our strategy and we welcome him,” said Andrew Saporito, Executive Director & CEO.

“My experience has taught me that capital program management is not just to keep the facilities in good condition, but more importantly to support excellence in operations. I am excited to get to work and be part of a top-notch team with the mission of expanding economic opportunity in the South Jersey region,” said Perks.

The final numbers are in and the South Jersey Port Corporation closed out 2021 with an all-time record-breaking cargo volume of 4,636,097 tons, a 54% increase over 2020, breaking the previous record by 6%. 

“That’s the best in the history of the South Jersey Ports and we’re expecting 2022 to be a very strong year that may top 2021,” reported Andy Saporito, Executive Director and CEO of South Jersey Port Corporation at the monthly meeting of the Board of Directors.  “This milestone is a testament to the skilled workers and partners who keep goods moving through the supply chain while our team seeks solutions to improve efficiency, attract business and build for the future.  The ongoing collaboration with SJPC’s labor force and industry partners lifted the port to this extraordinary record during the challenging time of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Saporito.

The dramatic increases in tonnage came from nearly all the SJPC’s prime cargo sectors: steel, plywood, recycled metals, cocoa beans, cement, and gypsum. The lone laggard, sand exports, is expected to increase as the national infrastructure plan is implemented.  

Rebounding steel imports led the way with 2,399,076 tons, a 141% increase over 2020.  The majority of this increase occurred at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal which moved 1,760,018 tons of steel slabs.  Plywood import tonnage increased by 98% totaling 220,812 tons demonstrating the Camden terminals as a premiere plywood portal on the East Coast.  Cocoa beans totaled 76,108 tons, a 36% increase verses 2020 totals. Exports of recycled metals increased by 10% and cement increased by 8%. 

The number of ship days was 960 days compared to 549 ship days in 2020, a 75% increase. “Ship days is the number of days a ship is loading or unloading at its terminal” explained Kevin Duffy, Assistant Executive Director / Chief Operating Officer. “We’ve worked hard to ensure we continue to operate safely and efficiently to move the increased cargo and have space to meet our customers’ needs”.  

Brendan Dugan, Assistant Executive Director / Director of Business Development, expects the cargo activity at South Jersey Ports to remain strong for the foreseeable future due to the national infrastructure plan and New Jersey’s leadership role in the $109 billion offshore wind industry.  EEW Group, which is building a $300 million manufacturing plant at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal to provide the massive steel monopiles for the offshore wind farms along the entire eastern seaboard, will ultimately require 150,000 tons of imported steel annually to meet their customers’ demand.  To build on this momentum, SJPC is conducting a study of the Port of Salem, which is a smaller port just down river from Paulsboro that could become an important supply port for the local offshore wind support services industry.  

“The challenge is to build the infrastructure to grow the port while operating more efficiently to meet current demands,” said Dugan.  South Jersey Ports received a $6 million grant to upgrade the rail infrastructure at one of their Camden terminals and a $9 million grant for wharf infrastructure improvements at the Salem Terminal.  “We identified an old building that we might refurbish to put another 40,000 square feet of storage space online and meet long-term customer demands.” 

“We continue to focus on upgrading technology and automation to optimize the fluid movement of cargo through our terminals and to ensure our customers’ storage and inventory needs are met”, added COO Kevin Duffy.

The South Jersey Port Corporation was created in 1968 to operate marine shipping terminals in the South Jersey Port District, consisting of seven counties: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Mercer, and Cape May. The South Jersey Ports is a national leader in bulk and breakbulk cargo, shipping and receiving to and from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe.  Their four international seaport facilities in South Jersey handle more than four million tons of bulk, breakbulk and containerized cargoes annually.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) and Congressman Donald Norcross (D-N.J.-01) today announced $1,010,800 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to support the operations at Balzano Marine Terminal at the Port of Camden. The South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC), which operates the marine terminal, will use the funding to purchase two American-made, low emission reach stackers, which will help improve operations and throughput at the terminal.

“With billions of dollars of goods coming through New Jersey’s ports every year, we must invest in their infrastructure to secure our competitiveness and keep our state and national economies moving,” said Sen. Menendez. “This federal grant will ensure Balzano Marine Terminal can continue moving goods and products in and out of the facility everyday smoothly and efficiently. Throughout my career, I have always advocated for our ports and I will continue fighting to make sure they have the critical resources they need.”

“We know that investing in South Jersey’s port infrastructure is a proven way to spur economic development, bolster our region’s economy, and create jobs,” said Sen. Booker. “I stand committed to continue fighting alongside Senator Menendez and Congressman Norcross for the federal resources needed to maintain the Port of Camden’s strength and economic competitiveness.”

“The Balzano Marine Terminal is a critical link in our supply chain and handles cargo that feeds directly into the broader economy,” said Rep. Norcross. “Increasing the number of low-emission reach stackers at the terminal will grow its capacity to offload and move goods, ease bottlenecks, and contribute to the South Jersey economy.”
Balzano Marine Terminal offers one-stop service for breakbulk and bulk cargoes. The facility handles steel, project cargo, wood products, cocoa beans and other bulk cargoes on a regular basis.

“Senator Menendez, Senator Booker and Congressman Norcross have been forceful and effective advocates for our ports in southern New Jersey,” said SJPC CEO Andrew Saporito. “This grant will support our continued efforts to operate the Balzano Marine Terminal more efficiently and utilize the marine highway which reduces the number of trucks on our roadways and neighborhoods. This is even more critical as we are moving record cargo volumes.”

Standing on the docks of the Port of Salem on November 9th, United States Senator Robert Menendez announced that South Jersey Ports will receive a $9 federal grant to upgrade its Salem Marine Terminal to strengthen New Jersey’s leadership in building, supporting, and manufacturing key component for the offshore wind energy industry blossoming off the Atlantic coast.

The Infrastructure for Rebuilding America grant, which has been in the works for more than a year, comes as President Biden was preparing to sign the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that will mean an unprecedented investment of tens of billions of dollars into New Jersey’s ports, roads, airports, and other critical infrastructure over the next decade.

Added to the billions of dollars of public and private investments in South Jersey ports and specialized manufacturing to support offshore wind energy farms, the grant helps to fuel the state’s leadership in the $100 Billion offshore wind energy industry.

“The potential for the Port of Salem to take on millions of dollars in new business is tremendous. But when opportunity comes knocking you have to be ready to open the door,” said Senator Menendez. “That’s why every penny we invest to upgrade the Salem Marine Terminal today is setting the stage for new business in the green energy space.

“We want to thank Senator Menendez and Senator Cory Booker for their continued support for South Jersey Ports. They’ve been working in tandem with Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Steve Sweeney, Congressman Donald Norcross, Congressman Jeff Van Drew, and regional leaders to make South Jersey a national leader of this dynamic, new green industry while also improving our overall capacity to service our current and future marine cargo customers,” said Andrew Saporito, Executive Director and CEO of South Jersey Port Corporation.

This is another example of the broad bipartisan support in Trenton and in Washington D.C. for the ongoing development of the marine terminals of South Jersey into the premiere logistical, manufacturing, and support center for a job-rich, carbon-free, Green Economy growing along the East Coast. The grant will be used to rehabilitate a 150-linear-foot bulkhead at the Salem Marine Terminal and extend it to 400 linear feet.

Salem Marine Terminal – with multi-modal rail connections, its barge, and navigation expertise along the Salem River, close links to interstate highways and bridges, and its sibling South Jersey marine terminals – will be ideal for logistical and maintenance support for the huge ocean wind-energy farms.
New Jersey is on track to invest $1 billion to lead the offshore wind energy industry in the United States. The South Jersey Port has already invested $400 million to develop the Port of Paulsboro into a general cargo marine terminal that was built with heavy-load decks to accommodate the massive weight of offshore wind energy components. For the past year, EEW America Offshore Structures, a worldwide leading producer of monopoles, has been building a $300 million state-of-the-art monopole plant at Paulsboro.

Doubling down, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority is building a $250 million “Wind Port” in Lower Alloways Township – 11 miles from the Salem Marine Terminal – to manufacture, assemble, and deploy the huge offshore turbines and blades.

Congressman Donald Norcross and new Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen honored us with a visit at Balzano Marine Terminal in Camden on June 3.

Throughout his career as a labor leader, state senator, and congressman, whose congressional district spans our terminals in Camden and Paulsboro, Congressman Norcross has been a tireless advocate for our mission to maximize our maritime assets to create and support family-sustaining jobs throughout South Jersey.

“South Jersey Port plays an integral role in connecting our region to the global economy,” said Norcross. “It has brought with it countless jobs in manufacturing, construction, and agriculture, and is now the epicenter of America’s $100 billion offshore wind energy industry. As we work to build back better, it is a top priority to steer federal funding and advance policies that support job creation and infrastructure improvements throughout South Jersey, including our ports.”
Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen, who grew up in the city he now leads, sees the two SJPC marine terminals in Camden as foundations of its economy and growth.

“The port is a job multiplier, supporting multiple jobs beyond their own payroll: truckers, engineers, restaurants, businesses,” he explained. “Whether you want to be a laborer hauling bags of cocoa beans, or a college graduate with a business or accounting degree who wants a career in logistics and global trade, South Jersey Ports provide that opportunity.”

State Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez and her legislative counterparts in the 5th Legislative District Assemblyman Bill Spearman and Bill Moen joined Camden City Councilman Angel Fuentes for a tour of the Balzano Marine Terminal on July 16.

The legislative team whose district includes Camden City, home to Balzano Marine Terminal and Broadway Marine Terminal, continues to be strong champions of the SJP’s mission in the New Jersey State Legislature and advocates for the needs of their constituents from quality of life to job creation and economic stability.

“The port is a pillar of Camden’s economy and with that comes the responsibility to the people of the city,” said Senator Cruz-Perez. “And it’s important that the port continues to be a good corporate citizen that runs its business respectful of the people are the backbone of our city.”

“Yes, jobs matter,” added Assemblyman Moen. “But just as important is improving the quality of life of our neighborhoods and this tour affirmed to me the SJPC’s commitment toward that mission, too.

Assemblyman Spearman and City Councilman President Angel Fuentes, who also toured the port, agreed.

“The port is taking some important steps. Big steps like switching from diesel to electric to power its equipment fleet and some small steps like switching to LED lighting to reduce its carbon footprint, which takes investment,” said Assemblyman Spearman.

“We are fortunate to work hand-in-hand with government leaders,” said Andy Saporito, Executive Director and CEO of SJP. “Creating jobs is our mission, but being a good neighbor is equally important. Reducing our carbon footprint is important, but so is reducing the impact of truck traffic to and from our terminals on neighborhoods. By working with our legislators, city government, and residents we can improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

“South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC) has been a great business partner for us for many, many years,” said Peter Svensson, senior vice president and head of Clipper America said, reflecting on the millions of tons of steel that his ships have moved over three decades through the SJPC’s Balzano Marine Terminal in Camden and the record tonnage projected through 2023.

“Although South Jersey Ports is a state organization, they manage and run it as a private company,” Svensson explained. “They are great partners. The key for us is having adequate docking and adequate warehousing space so we can move our cargo as efficiently as possible. And most importantly, so our ships aren’t unnecessarily burning money moored at the dock waiting to move cargo. Time is money. And SJPC has consistently delivered for us.”

Customer service and satisfaction is the operating imperative of the team at SJPC which is led by their Executive Director and CEO, Andy Saporito. “It’s personal to us because our customers, like Peter, are personal to us,” Saporito explained. “We all have our bottom lines. A ship unloading at the dock is costing Peter and his company upwards of $35,000 a day. That is factored into the rate he charges his customer. If that ship is idle at the dock, the increase in cost is something that comes out of our customer’s pocket and it is our job to ensure our terminal is the best option.”

South Jersey Port is committed to earning the trust and business of its partners like Peter at Clipper America. “We earn that trust by being a solid, dependable partner who focuses on our customers’ needs,” said Brendan Dugan, Assistant Executive Director/Director of Business Development for SJPC. “Our team here proactively works to mitigate any obstacles to our mutual success. SJPC is expert in the handling of high-value, high-quality cargo like the coiled steel and tin plate that Clipper America entrusts to us.”

That commitment and expertise is paying dividends with SJPC eclipsing Houston as Clipper America’s top American port of call.

“In the old days, our first port of call in the United States from Antwerp would be New Haven/New London Connecticut and we’d sail down to Camden offload 15,000 to 17,000 tons and then go to Savannah, Houston, and the Gulf ports,” Svensson explained. “Now our ships go directly from Antwerp to Camden and we’re delivering full shiploads, with upward of 30,000 tons. This year is probably our strongest year ever in Camden, probably around 400,000 tons and we project that will last another two years into 2023.”

COVID and the tariffs on imported steel had a devastating impact on shipping and the global supply chain. “March and April of 2020 weren’t the end of the business, but it was pretty gray and dark,” Svensson observed. “When Summer came, shipping went up and stayed that way from much of the second half of 2021. Q1 of 2021 “took off like a space shuttle to Mars and it is still going strong. A year ago, in February of 2020, you could get a ship for $5,000 to $6,000 a day. Today, you’re lucky to get it for $34,000 to $35,000 a day.”

The disruption to the supply chain won’t be fixed soon. Millions of empty cargo containers need to be relocated to exporters, warehouses are clogged with cargo because there are not enough trucks and rail to move it, or the workers to do the work.

Fortunately, SJPC has the available warehousing, trucking, rail, and workers to get the job done and has become the default port for coil steel and tinplate imports for manufacturers in the mid-west and along the Great Lakes.

“Camden is a funny beast,” Svensson explained. “It has two seasons for the steel that is destined for manufacturers on the Great Lakes. When the Saint Lawrence Seaway is closed from December to April, Camden is booming. Typically, when the weather improves, the Saint Lawrence Seaway reopens, and we see a decline in volume in Camden. But that is not the case this year. We’re into August with the Saint Lawrence Seaway fully opened and we’re moving full ships with 27,000 tons of steel coil directly to Camden.”