A busy year of business activity is expected in the Port of Baltimore in 2025.
The Maryland Department of Transportation Port Administration Office of Harbor Development has a new name for 2025: the Office of Navigation, Innovation, and Stewardship (NIS).
In November 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, awarded a $33.5 million contract for Baltimore Harbor and channels maintenance dredging for Fiscal Year 2025.
In coordination with the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Port Administration, the project consists of dredging approximately 2.3 million cubic yards of material from federal navigation channels in Maryland associated with the Port of Baltimore.
On January 8, 2025, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) issued a joint announcement of a tentative agreement for a new six-year Master
Contract.
In February, Maryland officials released statistics related to the Port of Baltimore’s 2024 business activity:
The Port of Baltimore’s state-owned public and private marine terminals handled 45.9 million tons of cargo in 2024.
More than 25.5 million of the nearly 46 million tons of cargo were handled during the last six months of 2024. The total cargo had a value of $62.2 billion, third-most in the Port’s history.
The Port of Baltimore handled 848,628 tons of roll on/roll off farm and construction machinery, which again was number one among all U.S. ports.
Baltimore also handled more imported forest products and imported gypsum than other ports. The Port handled 749,799 cars and light trucks in 2024, ranking second nationally. It also ranked second for salt and exported coal.
Overall, the Port of Baltimore finished 10th nationally for total cargo and 11th for dollar value among U.S. ports.
Additional achievements in 2024 for the Port of Baltimore included:
Part of the Howard Street Tunnel Project, the launch of double-stacked containers on rail to and from the port had major impacts. A temporary route allowing double-stacked containers became operational in October along the CSX network in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and onto the Midwest.
When reconstruction work on the tunnel is completed in 2026, the permanent and more efficient route is expected to go from Baltimore through the tunnel and onward into the Midwest. The Howard Street Tunnel project benefits from investment from the federal government, the State of Maryland, CSX and others.
A new five-year contract with Carnival Cruise Line that keeps the world’s largest cruise provider serving the Port of Baltimore. The agreement took effect on January 1, 2025 and includes a five-year renewal option.
Carnival offers five to 14-day cruises from Baltimore to wonderful destinations like the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean and New England/Canada.
For the 15th consecutive year, the Port received a top U.S. Coast Guard security assessment for its six state-owned marine terminals. In recent years, the Maryland Port Administration has installed high-mast lighting and fencing, stronger gate and fence line conditions, additional signage, and other physical security equipment.
Heightened cyber security and access control initiatives coupled with the MPA’s closed-circuit television network have added to the robust and effective security program.
Maryland officials noted that the Port of Baltimore attained the achievements despite interruptions in service at the Port caused by the allision of the M/V Dali with the Francis Scott Key Bridge and resulting collapse of the bridge.
Supporting the Port of Baltimore is a network of trucking companies, warehouses, logistics, tugboats, dockside workers, maintenance shops, training facilities, public safety entities, business organizations, and others.
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