Eastport will compliment GNT’s other ports in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie, New Brunswick. Stephean C. Chute, point person in Maine for GNT, worked closely with Port Director Chris Gardner as plans were drawn up for this project and funds were secured. “We (GNT) see this as our three-port solution to better serve our existing customers, explains Chute. GNT is a privately-owned company with offices in Halifax, which manufactures and transports forest products to destinations in the US, Europe and Asia.
Chute has been following progress of the conveyor system, construction of which should be completed this summer. Chute says that GNT plans to send its first shipment through Eastport as soon as the equipment is ready. “Eastport has a customer that is very experienced, with a ‘book of business’. There is nothing speculative about it,” assures Chute.
Today business at the Port of Eastport is booming, but two years ago when permits were sought for the conveyor system, the port’s main client, Woodland’s Domtar Paper Mill, had closed. Last fall, International Grand Investment Corporation (IGIC), a Chinese owned firm registered in Delaware, bought the mill and re-opened maintaining 300 jobs. With the new name, Woodland Pulp LLC, the mill has resumed moving a steady supply of hardwood pulp through the port. In addition, a significant new livestock cargo of dairy cows has become a reliable customer with eight shipments so far to Turkey and one to Russia.
Federal Marine Terminals, Inc manages the port operations and this past year saw its largest volume of bulk products of 400,000 metric tons. Workers with the independent Northeastern Longshoreman’s Association, NELA Local No. 1, are also clocking more hours than ever.
Increased and projected activity has stretched the limits of the facilities. “This is a very good problem to have” according to port director Gardner who worked to amend existing permits in order to prepare the port for additional facilities.
Eastport is one of three major ports in Maine. John Henshaw director of the Maine Port Authority speaks of a “three port strategy” that the state has adopted. The mission is “to improve the global competitiveness of Maine businesses and to develop, maintain and market opportunities for the import and export of cargo at all Maine ports. According to Henshaw, in 2010, “the dry cargo shipment amounts distributed through these ports were roughly: Eastport 40 percent, Searsport 30 percent and Portland 30 percent, although the mix varies from year to year.”
Henshaw has worked closely with the Port of Eastport. The Maine Port Authority helped to secure the $2 million in federal Department of Transportation, TIGER [Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery] funds, which along with the $4.5 million from the state and $1 million in local contributions funded the conveyor system. He is quick to give credit to Gardner and the seven-member Eastport Port Authority, who oversee operations.
Gardiner has also been looking into is the possibility of re-establishing a rail line to Eastport. Although a costly proposition, he dreams of a time when once again “rail will shake hands with sail.”
Coverage of Washington County is made possible by a grant from the Eaton Foundation.
Leslie Bowman is a freelance writer and photographer living in Trescott, Maine