Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority (BLRA) Executive Director Joseph Nichols today announced that Ports America has started operation of a new auto-marine terminal at The Peninsula at Bayonne Harbor, the former Military Ocean Terminal.

The BLRA entered into a $90 million contract to sell 90 acres of the Peninsula to Ports America last November. Closing of the sale was delayed because of a lawsuit brought by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which was defeated in the Superior Court and which is awaiting hearing at the Appellate Division.

While that lawsuit was pending, the Port Authority, having failed to purchase the Bayonne parcel, bought out the lease of the adjacent Northeast Auto-Marine Terminal, causing that business to end its existing contracts with local auto exporters. Approximately 200 local jobs were threatened.

To help retain business and jobs in Bayonne, the BLRA and Ports America entered into an interim lease agreement that allows Ports America to jump start its auto-marine operation while it waits for a final dismissal of the Port Authority lawsuit.

Cars for export started arriving at the Peninsula on October 27th, and the first vessel is due in port next week to begin loading vehicles. It is expected that approximately 100 longshoremen will be working at the Ports America facility.

For more information, please contact Deputy Director Dan Kurtz at the Bayonne Local Redevelopment Authority at 201-823-0333.

 

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