NC State Ports Authority

North Carolina Ports continues to expand its roll-on/roll-off capabilities, which has led to an increase in finished vehicle imports. The Morehead City team and its partners handled several new ro/ro programs in FY24, including the import of finished vehicles like coach buses and commercial vans. “The Port of Morehead City has traditionally handled military vehicles and wheeled heavy machinery,” said Hans Bean, Chief Commercial Officer, North Carolina Ports. “These new rolling programs showcase the Port of Morehead City’s capabilities and strong commitment to service that is also applicable to the automotive segment.”

On this National Logistics Day, we would like to extend a huge thank you to the team members, partners, and stakeholders who play a vital role in delivering efficient, congestion-free service built around customer needs. Learn more about our cargo handling capabilities and get in touch with our team here: https://lnkd.in/djj_xPXq

Senior Project Manager Barry Addertion is retiring this week following 18 years of dedicated service at North Carolina Ports. After graduating from NC State University, Barry joined the United States Airforce, achieving his goal of becoming a Pilot. He served in the NC Air National Guard for over 20 years, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Barry’s public service also includes 10 years of engineering with the NC Department of Environment & Natural Resources. He started at NC Ports in May of 2006 as a Civil Engineer. Barry's fingerprints are all over the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City and the Charlotte Inland Port. He has led and executed projects that have been integral to the North Carolina Ports growth story, including the South Gate Container Complex and Refrigerated Container Yard in Wilmington and the Central Hardstand in Morehead City. Throughout his tenure, Barry has also become the in-house drone pilot, capturing everything from progress pictures to unique cargo to sweeping views of our ports hard at work. In addition to photos from Barry's recognition during this week’s Board meeting, we also included some of our favorite drone shots that he has taken through the years. Thank you, Barry, for your commitment and dedication to NC Ports and the state of North Carolina!

Grocery retailers and distributors have identified the Port of Wilmington as an optimal gateway that provides direct and efficient access into a market with growing demand. This has led to an increase of import produce, both with established active programs and new trial programs. By utilizing NC Ports, instead of other gateways that are farther away, customers save time, money, and distance to consumers. "This gateway can deliver key advantages while reducing over-the-road distance, time, cost, and risk," said Hans Bean, Chief Commercial Officer, North Carolina Ports. "For these reasons, we anticipate more import produce trials in the very near future as new and existing customers continue to unlock the Port of Wilmington’s value.” Read more here:

In observance of National Maritime Day, The Propeller Club, Port of Wilmington, NC organized a Merchant Marine Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial downtown. This ceremony recognizes the American Merchant Mariners who have served in peace and in war since 1775. As a nation, we owe every Merchant Mariner a debt of gratitude for their work to support global trade, and for their sacrifice to ensure our security and freedom. NC Ports Executive Director Brian Clark, who is also a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, honored the U.S. Merchant Marine in his remarks at today's ceremony. He also recognized the hardworking men and women at NC Ports and across the maritime industry in North Carolina.

We want to hear from you! USACE Wilmington will host a series of public engagements during the Wilmington Harbor 403 scoping comment period. The meetings offer an opportunity for participants to engage with members of our team and learn about the conditionally authorized project to deepen the harbor. Click the link below to see our latest press release with details on the upcoming meetings. https://lnkd.in/ecTKPzCk

Flashback Friday: the difference 60 years will make! Below is an image of the Port of Wilmington in 1964 juxtaposed against the Port of Wilmington today. Our operations look much different in the present day as we now offer terminal facilities serving container, bulk, breakbulk, and ro-ro operations. The Port of Wilmington can service the largest vessels calling on the East Coast and is one of few Southern ports with readily available berths and storage areas for containers and general cargo. You can learn more about Wilmington’s capabilities and get in touch with our team here: https://lnkd.in/gy3_BjFh

It’s State Employee Recognition Week and we would like to say a huge THANK YOU to our dedicated team members who keep our goods and our economy moving every single day! NC Ports employees right here at home connect North Carolina to global markets and play a crucial role in supporting our state’s logistics network. Teams in Wilmington and Morehead City celebrated with hot dogs, hamburgers, and Nye's Cream Sandwiches!

It’s National Hurricane Preparedness Week! Our team members are always reviewing and practicing safety protocols and diligently planning to ensure our terminals are prepared in the event of a strong storm or tropical system. Strapping down container stacks and pinning down container cranes - these are just a few examples of some of the preparations that are made in advance of windy conditions! Watch some of the training exercises and demonstrations from this week:

The North Carolina Ports team is pleased to announce the appointment of Jonathan Graham as its next Chief Financial Officer. Graham is a seasoned finance executive with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. He most recently served as the Head of Finance, Global Projects for APM Terminals, a top 5 global port operator and an A.P. Moller-Maersk company, where he led global investment and technical transformation programs, including automation, decarbonization, and asset digitization. He will start on Monday, May 13th. https://lnkd.in/dfVmAjPp