Holt Logistics announced this week that it has entered into a partnership with the South Jersey Port Corporation(SJPC)to build anew marineterminalin Paulsboro, New Jersey.
Theplanned 190-acre facility will be the first new multi-purpose marine terminal to be constructed on the Delaware River in over 30 years,and is estimated tocreatemore than 850 permanent jobs when the new Paulsboro Marine Terminal is fully completed.
Speaking at a press conference held on Monday to announce the project, Leo A. Holt, president of Holt Logistics, said the new terminal would help grow the volume of cargo arriving in the region.
“The Delaware River really has become a rising tide that can createabundant opportunities fornew cargo and business growth for the entire region,” he said. “Thanks to the leadership and vision of SJPC and Holt Logistics, the Paulsboro Marine Terminal will be a modern, multi-faceted facility that will greatly increase shipping capacity fora full range ofcommodities. The Delaware River port complex stretching from Wilmington to Trenton is known worldwide for safe and efficient handling of steel, forest products, project cargo, rolling stock and containers. World trade has rebounded and this region is one of the epicenters of a new phase of cargo opportunities for traditional and new commodities.”
Holt claimed that the development of the facility was testament to the late Joe Balzano, who was “a tireless championof this economic engine for Southern New Jersey”.
Governor Chris Christie, who also attended the press conference, said the scheme represented a major step forward in implementing a long-term vision for the economic growth of the Delaware River and the South Jersey region, bringing enhanced economic opportunities and jobs for New Jersey families while improving quality of life for South Jersey residents.
TheState of New Jersey issued several bonds totaling US$170m to fundland and infrastructure improvementsto the Paulsboro site, which previously housedtheBP refineryand had beenclosedformore thana decade while a plan to redevelop the site was formulated. The completed site will encompass150acres of waterfront land, with possible expansion to 190 acres, and2,600 linear feet of berth on the Delaware River, all of which have been raised abovetheflood plain to resistoperationalshutdownsin the event of major storms.Additional infrastructure improvements to the site include a dedicated bridge and off-ramp that connects directly to I-295, andapproximately four milesof rail track on-site.
