Economies of Scale Through Partnerships Effectively managing port expansion and complex evolutions by lCdr samuel danus Cdr baxter smoaK Waterways Management Division Chief Prevention Department Head Sector Maryland-National Capital Region Sector Maryland-National Capital Region U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Coast Guard T he demand for waterway and port capacity continues to increase across the entire Marine Transportation System (MTS). Larger ships, shift- 1985 to 1995 after working as a maritime reporter for the Baltimore Sun.3 During her time in office, Representative Bentley was a strong advocate for protectionist trade policies in support of U.S. manufacturing and the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet.4 Coincidentally, the Port of Baltimore Harbor Safety and Coordination Committee also formed in the late 1980s when federally maintained navigation channels and aids to navigation systems were being improved to accommodate larger cargo vessels. Today, this vibrant HSC continues to play an essential role in ensuring safety and coordination in a continually growing port. In the midst of a global pandemic, the Port of Baltimore positioned itself to become the largest e-commerce port and one of the busiest shipping ports in the nation.5 In 2021, auto trade through the port increased by 13 per- cent, paper products by 73 percent, roll on/roll off farm and construction machinery rose 30 percent, and general cargo was up 9 percent.6 Complex and High Flying Throughout 2020 and 2021, the HSC spurred coordina- tion among stakeholders to facilitate sustained and safe maritime commerce during the complex Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) Key Crossing Reliability Initiative. This two-year project, adjacent to the Francis Scott Key Bridge, began with driving approximately 120 steel piles, erecting eight monopole towers, and constructing water- level collision protection structures. The conclusion included two miles of high voltage power lines installed across the entire width of the Patapsco River, a vital ship- ping channel.7 BGE engaged with the Port of Baltimore HSC on a regular basis, providing port stakeholders with brief- ings on the project’s status and collaborating to mini- mize any waterway impacts. This was critical to the port community’s understanding of the project’s importance ing trade patterns, and novel uses of our nation’s water- ways are exciting, but present new risks that must be mitigated. From offshore wind development and autono- mous vessels to ultra-large container ships, port expan- sion, expanded use, and increased waterway congestion, this growth, along with advancements in technology, presents unique challenges that need to be managed to safeguard our vital MTS. To effectively reduce new risk profiles and address evolving complexities, coordination and cooperation among MTS stakeholders is more essential now than ever. A well-connected and robust port coordinating body, commonly known as a harbor safety committee (HSC), provides the mechanism to tackle risk and facili- tate complex port evolutions to prevent major disrup- tions. HSCs are defined by U.S. Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-00.1 Furthermore, when port disruptions do occur, a resilient HSC provides an existing network for critical incident communication, crisis management, and stake- holder engagement to buy down risk within the complex. In 2021 and 2022, the Port of Baltimore and its approach channels faced several complex events where partner- ships within the local HSC paid dividends in safety, quality communications, and effective port management to control risk and manage multifaceted port evolutions. The Port of Baltimore Established, Historic, and Growing June 2006 marked the Port of Baltimore’s 300th anniver- sary. At this milestone, the Maryland governor renamed the state’s public terminals the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore. 2 The name honors the six-term U.S. rep- resentative who represented suburban Baltimore from 74 Proceedings Summer 2023