handled 306,805 shipping containers, surpassing the previous monthly record of 306,051 containers handled in August 2013. The increase was driven by a hike in import loaded containers, up 1 percent over the previous best month on record, as informed by the port authority.
Cargo shipped on the port’s ExpressRail system also continued to grow, with 42,950 containers transported on rail, up 14.2 percent over October 2013. More than 14 percent of the total port traffic is now transported by rail, the port authority said. “While the improved economic conditions across the country play a large part in our success story, we’re equally pleased that the entire port community is now working together to move more cargo more quickly and efficiently,” said Port Authority Port Commerce Director Richard Larrabee.
The cargo growth follows the establishment of the Port Performance Task Force, formed one year ago this week to explore ways to improve efficiency and service reliability at the port. In June, the task force released a report consisting of 23 recommendations to enhance the flow of goods from the port to the marketplace and to improve the environment around port facilities.
“Following the issuance of the report, the Council on Port Performance – consisting of various port stakeholders – was formed to explore ways to implement the recommendations. A methodology to improve the availability of chassis on the port was recently announced, while other port performance initiatives are being addressed by newly formed implementation teams,” the authority said in a release.
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