FAQ

"We need to give our customers the confidence that we can provide predictable and efficient handling of their cargo. That includes recognizing the growth we are experiencing, and demonstrating that we in this region can and will do what is necessary to respond to it."

Q: Is the economic contribution of the port to the region increasing or decreasing?
Q: Where did all that cargo come from?
Q: Where did the exports go?
Q: What is the status of the port dredging that I have heard about?
Q: What are the environmental aspects of the port that have received the most attention lately?
Q: Does this mean that the industry will reduce congestion in the port area?
Q: What else is happening along these lines?
Q. Anything else?
Q: What about water quality issues?
Q: How is security handled by the port?
Q: What is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey?
Q: What is the NYSA?
Q: Who are the members of the NYSA?
Q: Why is NYSA sponsoring the "Delivering Prosperity" campaign?
Q: Where does the port of New York and New Jersey rank among U.S. ports?

Q: Is the economic contribution of the port to the region increasing or decreasing?

A: Increasing. Cargo volumes in the Port of New York and New Jersey achieved record levels in 2007. In an annual press release the Port Authority of NY and NJ indicated “The dollar value of all cargo moving through the port exceeded $166 billion for the first time, up 11 percent from 2006.

Q: Where did all that cargo come from?
A: By in large, imports by growth in 2007 came from the Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and Asia, and South America. The top five importers were China, Italy, India, Germany and Brazil in that order. Much of what was imported in terms of growth over 2007 included preserved foods, furniture & bedding, spices, beverages, fish and seafood, and coffee and tea.

Q: Where did the exports go?
A: Exports exhibited considerable increases over the 2006 numbers. Most exports were delivered to Europe, Southeast Asia and Asia, and South America. Most of those exports are products in the hard goods and industrial feedstock categories; vehicles, machinery, woodpulp, iron & steel, organic chemicals.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE: http://www.panynj.gov/DoingBusinessWith/seaport/pdfs/2007_Trade_Stats_R4.pdf

Q: What is the status of the port dredging that I have heard about?

A. With respect the the Maintenance projects, Newark Bay is complete, the Arthur Kill project is nearly complete and the Hudson River is awaiting a pending contract award. Completed construction projects include 45’ Kill van Kull / Newark Bay (11/2004); Arthur Kill 41’/40’ to Howland Hook, NY, Bayway Terminal , NJ (3/2007); Port Jersey Channel 41’ (ongoing merged with 50’ expected completion in 2009). There are many other projects that are in various stages from full completion, partial percentage completion, to those with completed contracts and awaiting mobilization.

Q: What are the environmental aspects of the port that have received the most attention lately?

A. The port industry has been focusing on reducing the air emissions of its operations. Many of the actions taken are a commitment to use ultra low sulfur diesel fuel whenever possible in order to comply with the new federal air standards. This effort has lead to the development of a Rail Incentive Program. It is the largest single air quality program implemented by the NYSA organization. The volume of cargo moved by rail in this port has tripled over the last decade. More than 12% percent of container movements are by rail, and last year that figure rose by 7.5% while overall cargo rose 5%. The rail incentive, a reduced charge of only $10 regardless of destination, is designed to increase that percentage and shift more cargo from truck to rail. Each rail car can carry twice the number of containers as a truck. Another way to state it is 456 40’ containers will consume as much as 645 barrels of oil if moved by truck, and only 300 barrels of oil if moved by rail. Therefore emissions and fuel consumption are reduced by more than half. There are many other air quality improvements that the port industry is pursuing. Click on this link and see the testimony delivered by Frank M. McDonough to the New Jersey Clean Air Council

Q: Does this mean that the industry will reduce congestion in the port area?

A: Actually, this is but one of the many projects that the industry is pursuing to be more neighborhood friendly, while at the same time to improve and modernize the land side supply chain logistics of the port. For instance, the Portway Program is a New Jersey Department of Transportation initiative consisting of 11 individual projects intended to improve access to and between the port and airport in the Elizabeth / Newark complex. The focus is on intermodal rail facilities, trucking and warehousing/transfer facilities and the regional transportation system.

Q: What else is happening along these lines?

A. The Portfields Initiative is a method to convert challenged properties and brownfields into valuable new development sites in the port district. Designed to meet the increasing commercial needs of the region, this program is intended to encourage the development if warehousing and distribution facilities thereby enhancing the competitiveness and efficiency of the Port.

Q. Anything else?

A. The Port Support Zone and the Freight Logistics Zone strategies are designed to take these developing initiatives and use them to encourage and develop off-port facilities including freight villages, equipment maintenance and storage facilities, secure truck parks, and other multi-use areas designed to enhance port operations, reduce air emission, eliminate congestion, and mitigate other impacts of port related operations while improving the region’s quality of life and environment. Freight related operations would be clustered in strictly controlled, especially designated, geographic areas that feature intermodal access and are buffered from other urban and residential areas. If successful, these strategies can further reduce the interplay of commercial transportation with residential/commuter transportation, provide enhanced security, and assist in significantly reducing air emissions in the region.

Q: What about water quality issues?

A. For the first time since 2000, Congress approved a water resources bill (WRDA 2007) to support the continuation of navigation, ecosystem or environmental restoration and other projects in New York And New Jersey. The legislation is notable for a provision that should facilitate the development of a regional dredged material management facility for the Port of New York and New Jersey. Such a facility could be developed cooperatively between the Corps of Engineers, the states and private entities and bring greater predictability to available dredged material for beneficial use. WRDA 2007 also contains a number of so-called reforms that will revise how Army Corps of Engineers projects are evaluated, planned and implemented.

Q: How is security handled by the port?

A. As a result of a number of legislative initiatives, capital investments and operational improvements undertaken since the tragic events of 9/11, the maritime transportation system in the U.S. is more secure today than ever before. Rigorous domestic and international standards and programs have been implemented for port and cargo security. Customs and Border Protection now pre-screens cargo information on 100 percent of US import cargo containers before they leave a foreign port and scans 98% of all containers for radiation upon arrival in the US. Customs personnel physically inspect every container identified as high risk upon arrival in the U.S.

Enhancing maritime security requires the cooperation of government, industry and international trading partners. To ensure supply chain security, a unified and cooperative effort is necessary - from the manufacturers to the shippers who stuff the containers overseas, to the ocean carriers that transport them, to the ports and terminals that transfer them to land-based transportation modes, to the trucks and railroads that deliver them to and from their origination point and eventual destination and, of course, to the government, which has the ultimate investigative, law enforcement, and regulatory authority.

In addition to our efforts to improve supply chain security, the NYSA and our member organizations are interminable in their resolve to enhance the security of not only their facilities and vessels but the larger port community within which they operate. This includes the execution of a strategic plan which is based on sound risk management principles, the implementation of a Transportation Worker Identification Credential program to ensure that the identification of individuals with access to cargo can be verified reliably and expediently and robust training, awareness and communications programs. Just as important however, is our ability to respond in the event that something does happen, therefore we also ensure that we have the systems, processes and relationships in place to support recovery and resiliency or our regions critical infrastructure. The globalization of the world’s economy, and its growth over the last decade and a half, make supply chain security a linchpin in our nation’s overall security posture. Preparedness, prevention and response are the underpinnings of a sound worldwide supply chain security system.

Q: What is the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey?

A. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey manages and maintains the bridges, tunnels, bus terminals, airports, PATH and seaport that are critical to the bistate region’s trade and transportation capabilities. Through its facilities and services, people are able to make vital connections and businesses are able to grow.

Q: What is the NYSA?

A: The New York Shipping Association is a non-profit corporation of ocean cargo carriers, terminal operators, stevedores and marine-related businesses that operate the ships, move the cargo, train and employ the laborers, provide and maintain the equipment that moves goods and products to the largest and richest consumer market in the world.

Q: Who are the members of the NYSA?

A: Current list of the NYSA members.

Q: Why is NYSA sponsoring the "Delivering Prosperity" campaign?

A: Delivering Prosperity is a public education campaign sponsored by the New York Shipping Association to provide residents of New Jersey and New York with information about the Port of New York and New Jersey, what it does and how it affects the region.

Q: Where does the port of New York and New Jersey rank among U.S. ports?

A: The Port of New York and New Jersey is the third largest port in the U.S., as measured by the number of shipping containers that are unloaded each year. The largest in the nation is Los Angeles, and the second largest is Long Beach, California.