Baltimore (USBAL)

The Port of Baltimore is a major deep-water seaport located in Baltimore, along the Patapsco River near the northern end of Chesapeake Bay, United States. The port is one of the most important logistics gateways on the U.S. East Coast and serves as a primary hub connecting the American Midwest and Northeast manufacturing regions to global trade routes.
Known for handling diversified cargo — including containers, automobiles, Ro-Ro equipment, bulk commodities and project cargo — the port supports international trade across Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

PORT DETAILS

Field	Information
Port Name	Port of Baltimore
UN/LOCODE	USBAL
Country	United States
Location	Baltimore, Maryland
Latitude/Longitude	39.2333° N / −76.5500° W
Water Body	Patapsco River / Chesapeake Bay
Port Type	Deepwater Seaport
Ownership/Operator	Maryland Port Administration
Max Draft	~12.8 m

Terminals & Facilities

The port consists of multiple public and private terminals with specialized cargo handling infrastructure.

Major Public Terminals

Seagirt Marine Terminal – Container terminal capable of handling vessels up to 16,000 TEU

• Dundalk Marine Terminal – Containers, Ro-Ro, project cargo and machinery
• Masonville/Fairfield Terminal – Dedicated automobile terminal
• North Locust Point Terminal – Steel, forest products and paper
• South Locust Point Terminal – Forest products
• Cruise Maryland Terminal – Passenger cruise terminal

Available Facilities

• Container handling
• Ro-Ro & vehicle processing
• Breakbulk cargo
• Dry & liquid bulk cargo
• Warehousing (open & covered)
• Dry dock & ship repair
• Rail & truck intermodal connectivity

Cargo & Throughput

• Handles 40+ million tons of cargo annually
• Supports over 1 million TEU container capacity
• Around 1.1 million TEU handled in 2025
• One of the busiest U.S. ports for automobiles and Ro-Ro cargo

Key Commodities

Imports

• Vehicles & machinery
• Agricultural commodities (sugar, fertilizers, wood products)
• Paper & forest products

Exports

• Coal
• Scrap metal
• LNG & vehicles

Connectivity & Hinterland Access

The port offers strong inland connectivity across North America:

• Direct rail access via CSX & Norfolk Southern
• Immediate access to Interstate-95 highway network
• Close proximity to Baltimore/Washington International Airport
• Gateway to U.S. Midwest manufacturing belt

Shipping & Marine Services

• Compulsory pilotage
• High-security ISPS compliant operations
• Vessel repair & dry dock services
• Container management digital systems (NAVIS terminal operations)

Strategic Importance

The Port of Baltimore is a critical logistics hub for U.S. trade due to:

• Proximity to major industrial and consumer markets
• Specialized automobile handling capacity
• Deep berths capable of accommodating Neo-Panamax vessels
• Strong rail-to-port intermodal integration

Nearby Airports & Logistics Hubs

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
 

Why This Port Matters for Shipping

The Port of Baltimore is particularly important for exporters and importers handling heavy equipment, vehicles, and project cargo due to its Ro-Ro expertise and inland connectivity advantages. With deep channels and high-capacity terminals, it serves as a preferred East Coast alternative to congested container ports.

Need freight shipping to or from the Port of Baltimore (USBAL)?
Freight forwarders and logistics teams use this port extensively for container, Ro-Ro and breakbulk cargo moving between North America, Europe and Asia trade lanes.