Economic Momentum Continues to Accelerate at the Port Of Boston With New Service at Boston Autoport
New Service is the Second to Start at the Port of Boston in the Last Month

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced today that the Port of Boston continues to gain new business with the start-up of direct export service at Boston Autoport located in Charlestown. Beginning today, the Grimaldi Group starts its monthly Roll-On, Roll-Off or “RoRo” service between the U.S. and West Africa to export “wheeled” cargo that includes cars, trucks, tractors, buses, and other vehicles and equipment.

“Even in the current economic climate, ocean carriers see new opportunities to move cargo via the Port of Boston,” said Michael A. Leone, Massport’s Port Director. “This activity is good for New England businesses and their working families. We are pleased with the addition of the Grimaldi Group service at Boston Autoport as it helps maintain jobs at the port, and provides additional avenues to reach world markets.”

The Grimaldi Group’s West Africa Direct Service sails from Boston to the countries of Senegal, Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria, and provides connecting service on other Grimaldi vessels to Angola, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast, Western Ghana, Cameroon, and the Congo. In addition to Boston, the Grimaldi Group’s West Africa Direct Service will also call other US ports, such as New York, Baltimore, and Jacksonville.

The Port of Boston is one of only a handful of North American ports to add new service this year. Just last month, CMA CGM (America) LLC, the third largest global steamship line, began new container service at Conley Container Terminal in South Boston. The “Black Pearl” service connects Boston with more than 50 new trade destinations via its trans-shipment hub in Kingston, Jamaica. At Kingston, containers are transferred between the Boston ship and CMA CGM vessels sailing to nations in the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The Port of Boston is also served twice weekly by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) with North Europe and Mediterranean direct services, and weekly by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) and its vessel sharing partners, “K” Line, Yang Ming Line, and Hanjin providing direct service between Boston and ports in China. Columbia Coastal Transport provides a weekly barge service between Boston and New York carrying containers from other steamship lines moving cargo in and out of the New England market.

Boston Autoport leases nearly 80 acres of land from Massport for its bulk and automobile cargoes. It currently handles about 60,000 autos per year, including used vehicles for export, new imported Subarus, and dealer storage and export programs. Additionally more than 250,000 tons of salt are imported annually and stockpiled on the site. Boston Autoport is also Boston’s largest marine fueling facility for commercial vessels and pleasure craft.

The Port of Boston’s activity supports 34,000 jobs, and contributes more than $2 billion to the local, regional, and national economies through direct, indirect, and induced impact. In 2008, the Port of Boston handled nearly 15 million metric tons of cargo. The Port of Boston is the oldest continually active major port in the Western Hemisphere. Top imports include: alcoholic beverages, frozen seafood, footwear and furniture. Top exports include: hides and skins, autos, logs and lumber, frozen seafood, paper including waste paper, and scrap metal.

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