A Behemoth of a Boat Reminds Baltimore How it Came to Be

Published August 22, 2023, Baltimore Brew

The weekend layover of the Evergreen Line’s Ever Max, the biggest container ship ever to dock on Maryland shores, brought to mind why Baltimore is Baltimore and why its harbor is more than a recreational playground for paddle boats and cabin cruisers.

Founded in 1729, the city remains a hub of global trade thanks to 11.1 square miles of mostly deep water that lie within its boundaries.

For most residents, it’s an unknown or underappreciated fact that the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore handled a record $74.3 billion in foreign cargo last year.

Other high-water marks were established in 2022 for roll-on/roll-off (“Ro-Ro”) farm and construction equipment, general cargo and forest products despite worldwide supply chain issues and a slowdown in China trade.

“The port ranks 11th among major U.S. ports for foreign cargo handled and ninth for total foreign cargo value,” notes Richard Scher, spokesman for the Maryland Port Administration.

Expanding business was one reason why Ever Max made its appearance on Saturday to swap out containers at the sprawling Seagirt Marine Terminal on Broening Highway.

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Navy Chooses Baltimore for Commissioning Newest Ship

Published June 9th from The Baltimore Banner

The USS Carl Levin, a guided missile destroyer and the Navy's newest ship, will be commissioned at Baltimore Harbor on June 24. (Courtesy of the US Navy) Source: The Baltimore Banner

The Navy’s newest warship, the guided missile destroyer USS Carl Levin, will be commissioned in Baltimore on June 24. Although it isn’t among cities with a Navy installation, the Navy chose Baltimore for the ceremony to commission its newest ship, demonstrating it still sees Baltimore as a Navy town.

The city has a rich maritime tradition that was rooted centuries ago. The Navy’s first ship, the USS Constellation, launched in Baltimore in 1797. Baltimore has always been considered one of the great shipbuilding cities — the birthplace of the famous clipper ships, for example. In fact, in the 1790s, Baltimore led the nation in shipbuilding. During World War II, the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard built 384 Liberty ships, 94 Victory ships and 45 amphibious landing ships.

Read more from the Baltimore Banner here…

Bald Eagles Hatch at Masonville Cove in Curtis Bay

Photo by: Port of Baltimore Masonville Cove Eagle Cam

Three bald eagles were recently born at the Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center in Curtis Bay.

A pair of bald eagles had been nesting in a sycamore tree at the campus before hatching.

It's the fifth straight year the eagles have returned to the area to nest. Four times, they've given birth to eaglets.

“Bald eagles can be skittish when people are too close to their nest, and that isn’t good for the eaglets (young), so public access will be limited while the eaglets continue to grow,” noted Ela Carpenter, Urban Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Access to the pier and trails near their nest will be restored after the eaglets fledge, or are mature enough to fly. That usually occurs by mid-May.”

The eagles’ nest can be seen from the education center’s deck, though visitors are urged to bring binoculars for better viewing.

Or you can view online courtesy of the Port of Baltimore’s YouTube Channel.

“The annual arrival of bald eagles to Masonville Cove is a very exciting time,” said Maryland Port Administration Acting Director of Harbor Development Holly Miller. “For the best possible observing experience, we encourage the public to view our eagle cam online so they can closely watch them without disturbing or scaring them.”

Formerly a shipbreaking and dump site, Masonville Cove was reformed into an Environmental Education Center back in 2009 after the removal of more than 61,000 tons of trash and debris.

Read the full article here.

Source: WMAR-2 NEWS BALTIMORE