Record Start To 2016 For The Port Of Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A record start to the year for the Port of Baltimore. More than two million tons of cargo rolled in and out of our city.

And, as Mary Bubala explains, there's no stopping the growth.

From January 2016 through this past March, the Port of Baltimore handled a record amount of cargo -- 2.4 million tons rolled through Baltimore in just three months.

Its "roll on, roll off" cargo - -farm and construction equipment -- now has a 51 percent market share.

Port officials say it didn't happen by accident -- it was strategic.

"The port has stuck to its goal of looking at niche cargo. We have a strategic plan that we have followed for nearly 20 years, and that plan has led us to some lofty heights," said Richard Scher, Maryland Port Administration.

Like the Port of Baltimore handling more cars than any other U.S. port for five consecutive years, and being recognized as the most efficient container port in the U.S. -- with a 50-foot deep channel and container berth with supersized cranes, allowing those supersized container ships to unload.

And when the port is thriving, so is Maryland.

"We're responsible for over 14,000 direct jobs here at the port alone," said Scher. "Nearly 130,000 jobs in Maryland that are linked to activities from the port."

Some of those jobs are at the cruise terminal. The Port of Baltimore had an increase of more than 20,000 cruising passengers from last year.

And the Port of Baltimore just signed a long-term contract with Royal Caribbean, meaning people will be sailing in and out of Baltimore for years to come.

The port generates $310 million in state and local tax revenue.