Port of Albany-Rensselaer (NY) 2024 Highlights

The Port of Albany-Rensselaer has long served as a key economic driver for the Capital Region with an annual impact of more than $813 million effecting approximately 1,400 local jobs and 4,500 jobs throughout the state.

In its recently released 2024 U.S. Port and Maritime Industry Economic Contribution Report reflecting insights and analysis in collaboration with Congressional economists from EY, the American Association of Port Authority findings show that the maritime industry, its consumer spending, suppliers, and port users support 21.8 million American jobs, meaning that the port and maritime industry supports more than one out of eight jobs in the total United States workforce and contributes nearly $2.59 trillion to the national GDP. This report not only highlights the tremendous growth in port operations over the past decades but also provides a detailed look at the vital role ports play in ensuring the stability and success of the U.S. economy. For more information, follow link.

In 2024, CEO Richard J. Hendrick celebrated his 20th year with the Port. During his tenure, the Port has experienced historic increases in ships, tonnage, and longshore labor hours worked – as well as investments in infrastructure and district growth. Hendrick was recently elected Vice Chair of the American Association of Port Authorities Board, was named to City & State NY’s 2024 Transportation Power 100 list, and was invited to Washington DC on two separate occasions: to attend the National Zero-Emission Freight Corridor Strategy Roundtable at the White House and for the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) National Maritime Day Ceremony.

The Port of Albany Maritime Infrastructure Investment Project completed reconstruction of the Port’s maritime terminal (approximately 17 acres within a 30-acre maritime terminal) and adjacent roadways, including Smith Blvd, Raft St, Boat St, Normanskill St, and S. Port Rd. This is the first time in the Port’s history that the entire maritime terminal was entirely reconstructed since 1932.

Also, the Port was awarded a $9.9M grant from NYS Department of Transportation Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program (PFRAP) for upgrades to heavy rail and on-dock wharf system (the concrete support) at the Port’s existing maritime terminal.

The Albany Port District Commissioners, staff, and tenants hosted the Captain of the Port, the newly promoted U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York Commander Captain Jonathan Andrechik for the first time ever at the Port of Albany. Captains of the Port enforce port safety and security and marine environmental protection regulations, including the protection and security of vessels, harbors, and waterfront facilities; anchorages; regulated navigation areas; water pollution; and ports and waterways safety for the district from Manhattan to Albany. The Port has an active relationship with the Coast Guard and regularly engages in drills and cybersecurity exercises with local, regional, state, and federal emergency and law enforcement partners.

In honor of World Trade Week NYC 2024, more than 50 business leaders from across New York State and the Northeast came together at the Port for a symposium on Global Supply Chains and Foreign Trade Zones (FTZ). The presentations focused on how companies involved in manufacturing and distribution can understand post-pandemic supply chain issues, learn proven options for reducing risk and spend in the global supply chain, and how to implement/operate Foreign Trade Zones. Special thanks to partners: Blue Tiger International, Capital District Regional Planning Commission, Capital Region Foreign Trade Zone #121, Center for Economic Growth, Curia, EY, Logistec, Empire State Development, New York SBDC, Sparx, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The Port moved one of the heaviest and largest components over the docks. In partnership with Edwards Moving & Rigging and GE Vernova, the Port showed off its multimodal and heavy lift capabilities with the use of the RORO (roll-on/roll-off) to facilitate the move of a 940,000 lb., 60-hertz W86 generator from rail to SPMT (self-propelled modular transporter) to barge. The barge proceeded down the Atlantic, into the Gulf of Mexico, to its final destination in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Port of Albany is at the intersection of road, rail, and river and is frequently used for transportation of over-dimensional and heavy lift cargo that can’t use overland routes and infrastructure.

The Port has demonstrated exceptional leadership as evidenced by its eight-year consecutive Green Marine certification. The Port of Albany was the first port in New York State to join the program that sets an environmentally forward benchmark for ports in North America. The Green Marine program provides a comprehensive framework for ports and maritime companies to assess and improve their environmental performance. The program addresses prioritized environmental issues related to air, water, soil quality, and community relations. Participants must demonstrate continual and measurable improvement year after year. For more information, visit https://green-marine.org/.../a...

The Alliance for Clean Energy New York (ACE NY) Annual Fall Conference featured high-level discussions and insights from industry experts, environmental and justice advocates, and government officials on New York’s clean energy initiatives. The conference ended with a tour of the Port’s Beacon Island 85-acre expansion site, which has been fully permitted for offshore wind supply chain manufacturing and related maritime operations and has Phase 1 construction nearly complete including a heavy-capacity bridge across the Normanskill Creek, and utility, infrastructure, earthwork and roadway work. As Offshore Wind initiatives in New York state are looking forward to NYSERDA’s Port Infrastructure/NY5 funding, the Port is the largest fully permitted Port site for wind manufacturing on the east coast.

The Port of Albany and stevedoring partner LOGISTEC have been key to the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE), an energy transmission line in/along the Hudson River designed to bring hydropower generated in Canada to the US. This power line will run 340 miles from Quebec to supply New York City with electricity. So far, the crew at the port has unloaded seven ships (estimated 11,500 longshore hours). This cable will cover more than 70% of the total distance of the project, with more to go. The cables are manufactured in Sweden and shipped directly to the Port of Albany. Once at the Port, they are unloaded onto barges that travel to Lake Champlain.

Port Industry Day was an opportunity for attendees to learn more about what is happening in the global maritime industry, to meet Port tenants and partners, to see displays and demonstrations, and to get an up-close look at Port operations. The day-long program featured internationally renowned port and transportation speakers, a panel discussion on the state of supply chain and economic opportunity, tours, and an Expo Space that included Port tenants, small business and maritime partners, neighbors, and education and workforce partners.

Pictured: (top) Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan inspects a turbine from a KidWind team at Sand Creek Middle School in South Colonie; (bottom) Past American Association of Port Authorities Chair and Port of Tampa Bay CEO Paul Anderson as keynote speaker.