Port Registers Record Month for Number of Cargo Ships

The Port of Redwood City registered a record month in May for the number of ship calls, 11, and for the most tonnage crossing Port docks in a single month - 287,237 metric tons.

Executive Director Michael J. Giari reported that 11 ships and four barges called upon the Port in May. The cargo included imported sand and aggregates - 112,926 metric tons, imported sand - 94,683 metric tons, imported aggregates - 40,537 metric tons, and exported shredded metal - 21,305 metric tons.

"This record month demonstrates that the Port and the companies operating at the Port have the capacity and capability of handling a high level of shipping activity," Giari said. "The efficiency of moving these construction materials to where they are needed in Silicon Valley helps to keep projects on schedule and building costs lower."

A construction boom in Silicon Valley in recent years h  as been a primary factor toward a substantial increase in cargo received at the Port of Redwood City. The majority of the cargo shipped to the Port is high quality sand and aggregate material, transported from British Columbia, Canada.

Construction has been on the rise throughout Silicon Valley, particularly due to growing high-tech companies making more hires, and as a result, needing more space. For example, Apple, Facebook, Google and Samsung all have plans to expand current offices or build on new sites in the region. Such construction activity would likely break the commercial record for the area, which was set in 2000, according to a McGraw-Hill analyst.

Redwood City also is experiencing a construction boom, with thousands of housing units and major office construction throughout the city. For a list of projects visit this website: http://pubgis.redwoodcity.org/gis/CityProjectsLaunch.aspx