Business Agreements: Canaveral, Saint John, Richmond

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Canaveral Renews Pact with Morton Salt on New 10-Year Pact

Canaveral Port Authority Commissioners on March 19 approved a new 10-year marine terminal operating and lease agreement with Morton Salt that paves the way to expansion of the company's operations at Port Canaveral.

The current agreement expires in 2014. According to the port authority, the new agreement will generate port revenues amounting to $13 million and allow Morton Salt to expand its Canaveral operations. The company is expected build distribution warehouse, which could to lead to job expansion and new product lines. Currently, the company employs 54 Brevard County residents.

"Morton Salt has been a great partner since opening its sea-salt processing plant at Port Canaveral in 1990," said Port Authority Chairman Tom Weinberg. "Importing salt from the Bahamian island of Great Inagua in the Bahamas for use in the United States has provided consumers nationwide with products for their swimming pools, icy driveways and water softening systems."

Saint John to Homeport Blount Summer 2015 Cruises

Blount Small Ship Adventures will originate a Bay of Fundy cruise itinerary from Port Saint John in the summer of 2015. The itinerary will include stops in other Bay of Fundy ports such as St. Andrews, Grand Manan and Campobello Island.

The announcement follows a February 18 provincial government announcement of a three-year investment to help Saint John become a home port for cruise ships. It also follows the February 18 release of a consultant's study that found Saint John to be well-suited to become a home port for expedition-class ships (Advisory, February 25, 2014).

Blount's services and line of ships carry up to 88 passengers on seven to 16-day tours focused on unique destinations, educational opportunities and adventure.

"Unlike the average visiting cruise ship, our port will not be the first stop for Blount passengers," said Peter Gaulton, chair of Port Saint John's board of directors. "Instead, they will experience the city before our world-class port becomes a gateway to this region's natural wonders. We are proud to be part of this bigger picture and to be an economic driver for culture-building industries like hospitality, tourism and retail in the province."

According to the port authority, cruise passengers making Saint John port calls spend an average of $60 to $80 and would likely spend up to twice that much when starting their journey from Saint John as a home port. Passengers visiting home ports often stay at least one night in a hotel while spending money on meals and other incidentals.

"We are thrilled to announce this partnership and our continued commitment to New Brunswick and Port Saint John," said Nancy Blount, president, Blount Small Ship Adventures. "We have already been operating in the destination as part of Blount's ‘Classical Maine and the Northeast' cruise, and know it is beloved by our customers for its historic cities, charming maritime villages and the beauty of its rocky shores jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Beyond the stunning backdrop it provides, we understand the economic impact of calling Port Saint John home, and are proud to partner with the destination and contribute to its tourism development."

Virginia: ZIM Offers Richmond Bill of Lading

ZIM is now offering a Richmond bill of lading to the shipping public, both importers and exporters. Any shipper tendering cargo to or from ZIM at the Port of Richmond will have access to the 180 ports served by the Israeli ocean carrier.

"This is another significant achievement in expanding the service to Port of Richmond," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). "This decision by ZIM adds to the increasing significance of the barge service that connects the Port of Virginia and the Port of Richmond. This move will be beneficial to our mutual customers, the economic development community, the port and ZIM."

The VPA has leased the Richmond Deepwater Terminal from the city of Richmond since July 2011.

The 64 Express, owned and operated by James River Barge Line, LLC, currently offers three, weekly, roundtrip container-on-barge sailings between VPA's Norfolk International Terminals and APM Terminals in Hampton Roads and the Richmond terminal.

"ZIM is using The Port of Virginia in order to provide service to the furniture and finished product manufacturers from Asia and the regional refrigerated freight market and paper mills needs in export to both Atlantic and Pacific trades," said Lea Bogatch-Genossar, ZIM's Americas, Canada and Caribbean-area president. "The Richmond bill of lading is another extension we're offering to the market that will enable more environment-friendly transportation, as part of our vision to support the environment and community."