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New Bedford Harbor is at the mouth of the Acushnet River, which flows south into Buzzards Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The entrance to the harbor is only nine nautical miles from the beginning of the Cape Cod Canal shipping channel. The Port of New Bedford is a deep-water port with depths of 30 feet. The harbor features a hurricane barrier that stretches across the water from the south end of New Bedford to the Town of Fairhaven. The barriera??s 150-foot opening is closed during hurricane conditions and coastal storms. As a result, the harbor is one of the safest havens on the eastern seaboard. The port has a history of seafaring traditions that continue today with an active fishing fleet, ferry services, and cruise ship docking. The port is supported by the citya??s outstanding, multi-ethnic work force and international distribution services, which include an adjacent airport as well as rail and interstate highway connections. With more than 950 recreational boat slips and approximately 500 moorings, New Bedford Harbor also is an important center for recreational boating. The Port of New Bedford is the largest breakbulk handler of perishable items in Massachusetts and adjacent states. Commodities brought by refrigerated vessels from around the world primarily include fresh fruit and fish, as well as substantial volumes of frozen fish. The Port has direct Atlantic service from Norway calling at Maritime International Terminal every two weeks to satisfy the needs of Massachusetts fish processors and distributors. With its waterfront warehouse capacity, Maritime International has one of the largest U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved cold treatment centers on the East Coast for the use of restricted imported fruit. The terminal receives approximately 25 vessels a year. Each vessel carries between 1,500 and 4,000 tons of fish or, if carrying fruit, about 2,000 to 3,000 tons of fruit. Port calls vary between one and two days per discharge. Rules and Regulations The New Bedford Harbor Development Commission (HDC) manages city properties on the New Bedford waterfront, including piers, wharves, and bulkheads. These facilities include North Terminal, South Terminal, and the Ferry Terminal at State Pier. The HDC also operates Homer's, Leonard's, Steamship, Coal Pocket, and Fisherman's Wharves and a recreational marina on Pope's Island. The HDC assesses user charges for private contractors and dockage and unloading fees for vessels that use its facilities or city waters. The revenues are used to operate and maintain properties. The HDC has regulations regarding use of piers, wharves, bulkheads, and parking areas under its jurisdiction. These rules apply to the harbor and waters within the City of New Bedford and maritime facilities operated on property under HDC administration. This section is a summary of permit requirements, fees, and conduct on city-owned piers and other facilities. Application forms for permits or other authorizations may be obtained from the HDC. Applications may be submitted by mail (P.O. Box 50899, New Bedford, MA 02745) or in person at the HDC office, 106 Co-Op Wharf (at Fishermen's Wharf). A permit will be issued only after receipt of the fee and a completed application form, including name, address, and telephone number(s) of a contact person. The HDC does not provide electricity, water, security, or other services to permit holders, unless specifically approved by the HDC. New Bedford Hurricane Barrier Completed in 1966 at a cost of over $18 million, the Hurricane Barrier protects approximately 1,400 acres of heavily developed industrial and commercial properties from New Bedford Harbor to Clarka??s Cove, including the fishing fleet in the inner harbor. Stretching 3.5 miles long and standing 26 feet above mean high tide, the barrier is the largest stone structure in the eastern United States. The barrier encloses the harbor except for a 150-foot opening. The two massive gates, weighing 40.5 tons each, can close in 12 minutes to seal the opening. The navigation gate is manned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The gates may be closed if major coastal storms or strong high tides are forecast. Other features of the barrier, including a street gate and pump station, are operated and maintained by the city. South Terminal South Terminal, located inside the Hurricane Barrier, has over 25 acres of marine industrial land, with a 1,200-foot bulkhead and depths of 20 feet, for off-loading fish and seafood directly into the fish processing plants that occupy most of the site. These modern buildings are where fishing boats are unloaded. Workers fillet, clean, weigh, and package the seafood. Products then are shipped by truck and air freight around the world. The terminal also provides transient berthing for commercial fishing vessels unloading catch or laying over for one or two days. The Green and Wood Pier is located in South Terminal. The pier houses seafood processing plants and also provides transient berthing for commercial fishing vessels. The terminal also is home to the Whaling City Seafood Display Auction, the first electronic seafood display auction in the country. The Auction combines advance telecommunications, computer technology, and accounting capability with commodity trading through the internet. With annual sales over 100 million, the Auction services over 300 vessels, which consist of draggers and scallopers, and over 50 buyers throughout the United States. New Bedford State Pier State Pier is a bulkheaded wharf of steel and stone construction with timber pile supported piers on the North, South, and East Apron. The Pier consists of eight acres with 1,800 feet of berthing space and a 25- to 30-foot draft. Dry storage is approximately 97,000 square feet and open storage is approximately 130,000 square feet paved with asphalt. State Pier is owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The HDC leases part of the north side of State Pier, which now houses the New Bedford Ferry Terminal. Outside the ferry terminal, use of State Pier for warehousing, dockage, and wharfage is subject to state fees. For more information, contact DCR's Pier Manager at (508) 993-1646 or (617) 908-7685. Freight and Cargo Facilities New Bedford State Pier: Rick Cunio, Pier Manager Phone: (508) 993-1646 Fax: (508) 993-1646 E-mail: nbs.pier@state.ma.us www.state.ma.us/seaport Maritime and Bridge Terminals: Maritime International Inc. Pierre Brenier Phone: (508) 996-8500 x233 Fax: (508) 991-3431 E-mail: pierreb@maritimeinternational.org www.maritimeinternational.org Pope's Island Terminal: Mark White, D.W. White Construction Phone: (508) 763-8868 E-mail: mwhite@dwwhite.com Sprague Energy Petroleum Terminal Lisa Fortin, Terminal Manager Phone: (508) 994-3431 Fax: (508) 994-0177 Web Site: www.spragueenergy.com Freight Ferry Terminal on State Pier The Quick Start Ferry facility on New Bedford State Pier allows intermodal transfers of waterborne freight and freight carried by truck and rail. The terminal features a 27-foot pier depth, roll on-roll off capability, offsite cold storage, and easy access to the interstate highway system. The ramp is 100 feet long and 18 feet wide and will hold up to 200 tons. The facility complies with all applicable Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The HDC is responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the facility. NEW BEDFORDa??S STATUS AS A FOREIGN TRADE ZONE CAN BRING DOWN YOUR BUSINESS COSTS!!! LEARN MORE BELOW: Foreign Trade Zone 28 An FTZ is a designated area that, for Customs purposes, is considered outside the U.S. Nearly any imported merchandise can be brought into the FTZ for almost any kind of manipulation duty-free, unless it enters the U.S. market. Goods in the FTZ can be assembled, manufactured or processed and final products re-exported without paying Customs duties. If the final products enter the U.S., the duty rate may be lower than the duty applicable to the product itself or its parts. The City of New Bedford is the grantee and holder of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) #28 offering a competitive advantage to foreign businesses looking to trade in US markets. The Port, Regional Airport, and adjacent areas form the New Bedford FTZ #28, which provides duty-free manufacturing opportunities for importers and exporters. FTZ #28 is able to sponsor expanded general purpose sites within a 60-mile radius of the City. In addition, the FTZ has the potential to sponsor qualified subzones anywhere in Massachusetts. By establishing a subzone international businesses can reduce operational costs by categorizing imports and exports so that goods are taxed at the least cumbersome stage in the chain of distribution. New Bedford offers international distribution services that support the FTZ including sea, air, and rail services, as well as interstate highway systems. Further, New Bedford shipping agencies, freight forwarding and stevedore services, and warehouse and truck-brokering facilities are great resources to support foreign business and labor needs - The Port of New Bedford is the number one ranking fishing port in the country in terms of value of catch landed and services approximately 500 fishing vessels. - The Port of New Bedford sits at the mouth of the Acushnet River, which flows south into Buzzards Bay and the Atlantic Ocean and lies nine nautical miles south of the Cape Cod Canal shipping channel. - The Port of New Bedford is a deep water port with a depth of 30 feet. - The harbor features a hurricane barrier that stretches across the water from the south end of New Bedford to the Town of Fairhaven. The barriera??s 150-foot opening closes during hurricane conditions and coastal storms making the Harbor one of the safest hubs on the eastern seaboard. - The Port is supported by the citya??s outstanding, multi-ethnic work force and international distribution services, which include an adjacent airport as well as rail and interstate highway connections. Pilotage Northeast Marine Pilots (NEMP) serves vessels to and from ports in the southern New England region, including New Bedford and other points in Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod and the Islands, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. The pilots routinely handle all types and tonnages of vessels. Pilots take the conn when the vessel is boarded upon arrival at the pilot station (the seaward beginning of transit) through inland and coastal routes to the final port destination and intended berth. Pilots serve as the vessel's docking masters upon arrival at the port and when at the berth and conduct docking maneuvers both with and without tugs. NEMP utilizes state-of-the-art Long Range VHF Communications, allowing direct and continuous contact between the vessel and the pilot station from six to eight hours prior to arrival. The pilot station for the Port of New Bedford is located at Latitude 41??? - 30.8 N, Longitude 70??? - 50.1 W. For more information, including pilotage rates for the Port of New Bedford, contact Northeast Marine Pilots 243 Spring Street Newport, RI 02840. Telephone: (800) 274-1216 or (401) 847-9050. (VHF Ch 16, 10, 14) New Bedford Foreign Trade Zone The Port of New Bedford, New Bedford Regional Airport, and adjacent areas form the New Bedford Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), which provides duty-free manufacturing opportunities for importers and exporters. The City of New Bedford is grantee or holder of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) #28. An FTZ is a designated area that, for Customs purposes, is considered outside the U.S. Nearly any imported merchandise can be brought into the FTZ for almost any kind of manipulation duty-free, unless it enters the U.S. market. Goods in the FTZ can be assembled, manufactured or processed and final products re-exported without paying Customs duties. If the final products enter the U.S., the duty rate may be lower than the duty applicable to the product itself or its parts. New Bedford offers international distribution services that support the FTZ. The city is accessible by sea, air, and rail services, as well as interstate highway systems. The port has shipping agencies, freight forwarding and stevedore services, and warehouse and truck-brokering facilities. The New Bedford Regional Airport is located within the FTZ. New Bedford is serviced by the CSX interstate railway. The city is adjacent to the interstate highway system and is within overnight truck delivery distance of most major cities in the Northeast industrial corridor. Long-haul trucking service to Canada and U.S. inland states also is available. New Bedford Foreign Trade Zone #28 is a direct port of entry to European and Latin American markets. FTZ #28 is able to sponsor expanded general purpose sites within a 60-mile radius of the city. In addition, the FTZ has the potential to sponsor qualified subzones anywhere in Massachusetts. The FTZ Corporation recently created a subzone near the porta??s South Terminal area outside the Hurricane Barrier. For more information, contact the Foreign Trade Zone Corporation at (508) 979-1578.