Murphy Marine Services strength comes from diversity
Murphy Marine Services strength comes from diversity
WILMINGTON, DE — For Murphy Marine Services Inc., “This is shaping up to be a decent year,” in the view of John Coulahan, the firm’s president. The stevedoring company is central to “Team Wilmington” and the teamwork involved in the handling of cargo and freight passing through the port of Wilmington, DE. Coulahan noted that for his firm, “We had a fair year in 2013 with cargo volumes holding up. And this should be a decent year — although it could always be better.”
The port of Wilmington handles a multitude of cargoes and products, including containers, automobiles and other vehicles for export, salt imported from Chile, ilmenite for DuPont, petcoke for exports from nearby refineries (approximately 1 million tons), and fresh fruit products.
Pat Farrell, vice president of operations for Murphy Marine, noted, “It’s good to be diversified” as there are ups and downs in the volume of Wilmington’s various customers. “Our banana customers, Dole and Chiquita, have been steadily increasing their volume and look to remain strong,” Farrell said. “Chilean fruit imports were down about 20 percent for the 2013-14 season as crops in the central and southern Chilean growing districts suffered frost damage, but in the north production “was a little heavier than normal,” Farrell said.
Moroccan clementine volume coming into Wilmington last fall was up 25 percent because “the season was longer than normal,” Farrell continued. The Canadian market for Moroccan clementines was weak but demand was strong in the United States because California clementine growers “had problems early on so there were more opportunities to sell” fruit from Morocco.
Coulahan added, “Argentine pears had a pretty good season. A little less volume than last year, but overall a good season. Also from Argentina, apple juice concentrate is imported through Wilmington. Crop results there will probably yield reduced volumes from last year.
The port of Wilmington and Murphy Marine Services continue to be key in the handling of refrigerated cargo carried onboard specialized reefer vessels.
Although, Coulahan noted, container services continue to encroach on markets and commodities that have historically been served by break bulk reefer ships. “It’s an irreversible trend, but there should always be a niche for reefers.” The specialized vessel’s ability to service a high-volume concentrated market in a relative short season “is a unique value they bring.”
