“Having an internationally renowned paper manufacturer of UPM’s stature continue to call at the Port of Baltimore for 10 more years means 10 more years of guaranteed jobs for the port’s dedicated workforce,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
Headquartered in Finland, UPM has approximately 26,000 employees at production facilities in 15 countries. UPM’s core businesses are in printing papers, specialty papers, label materials and wood products.
MPA Executive Director James J. White was pleased that UPM’s Port of Baltimore presence — which dates to the mid-1990s — would continue.
“It is tremendous news to have a company as well-respected globally as UPM agree to continue shipping their products through the Port of Baltimore,” White said. “We look forward to another decade of successful business together.”
Jussi Sarvikas, UPM’s vice president of logistics, said the company has many reasons for feeling optimistic about the partnership, including infrastructure far ahead of other ports, cooperative leadership and an undying commitment to efficiency. Other valuable partners include the Spliethoff shipping line, CSX Transportation and Bal Term stevedoring.
“We’ve had a long-standing relationship (with UPM) — they’re very loyal,” said Scott Menzies, Bal Term managing partner. “They’re a very demanding customer, with high expectations of all their service providers to be as efficient as they possibly can be. We spent a couple of years (in the 1990s) earning their respect; that’s why they’re a market leader.” ■
Student engagement in activities at the Masonville Cove Environmental Center has been strongly encouraged since its inception.
The Port of Baltimore’s commitment to a cleaner, greener environment has been demonstrated in a number of ways — from the debut of a new environmental education center to a program preventing the discharge of potentially dangerous invasive species into Maryland waters.
The Masonville Cove Environmental Education Center opened in April, the latest example of the Maryland Port Administration’s environmental commitment. The “near-zero, net-energy” building highlights the latest energy-efficient advances, including a ground-source air conditioning system, solar energy power, rooftop rain barrels that help water greenery and a high-tech energy-recovery ventilator.
“Instead of being a place to avoid, Masonville Cove is now a place to learn about and enjoy the environment,” said Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown. “This project is a great example of
the Governor’s Smart, Green and Growing initiative.”
The center is part of the MPA’s innovative restoration project of 54 blighted acres along the Patapsco River. The initiative links community revitalization, transportation improvements, economic development, smart growth and environmental restoration efforts.
“Our children will have a first-hand opportunity to learn about the bay and how their daily activities affect the health of the bay,” said Carol Kefford Eshelman, Baybrook executive director.
A rousing success, Masonville is far from the only environmental accomplishment trumpeted at the port.
State and federal agencies have partnered to establish the Maritime Environmental Resource Center. The program tests the effectiveness of systems designed to safely treat ballast water before its discharge from ships, preventing the introduction of destructive species into non-native
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