Eimskip, a global temperature-controlled shipping line based in Iceland, has invested in the Portland market, establishing the Port of Portland as its primary US port of call, and has partnered with Americold on the development.
“We’re very pleased with the award and the opportunity to work with Americold and the Maine Port Authority to provide New England with the most advanced cold storage and transportation options on the East Coast,” said Larus Isfeld, managing director of Eimskip USA.
Eimskip will become an anchor tenant and is considering relocating its North American headquarters to the new facility once it’s completed. Together, Americold and Eimskip will offer the market full temperature-controlled supply chain capability with multi-model transportation (rail, ocean, over-the-road), anchored by a state-of-the-art facility at the port offering enhanced services with lower costs, and expansion capabilities for both existing and new potential customers.
The proposal for the new facility design took into consideration the needs of the port, the local community, current customers, and future occupiers. Full final details are not yet available, but options for automation, sustainable operations, and 24/7 services are all under consideration. The new site will provide work for about 200 personnel during construction and up to 30 full-time jobs once it is in full operation.
Americold will now begin exclusive negotiations with the Maine Port Authority on a ground lease. Groundbreaking could occur in the latter half of 2016 with operations commencing within a year.
Based in Atlanta GA, Americold owns and operates more than 175 temperature-controlled warehouses, with more than 1 billion cubic feet of storage, in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina, and Canada. The company serves more than 3,000 customers and employs 11,000 associates worldwide.
More information is available at www.americold.com.
