N.H. Agency Signs Port Deal with Scrap Company

A new deal signed last week, Jan. 24, by the board of directors for the Pease Development Authority will result in an increase in the amount of scrap metal being shipped out of the Port of Portsmouth, N.H. The PDA's deal is with  Rensselaer Iron & Steel and Grimmel Industries of Maine.

The Authority is a quasi-government agency involved in improving the business climate at the Port of Portsmouth, N.H., facility. The contract with the scrap metal company will give the New York state based operation the opportunity to ship some of its vessels through to the port where they can be filled at the port. The agreement, a one-year deal, will allow Grimmel and Renssalear the opportunity to store scrap ferrous on the port’s property.

According to the Portsmouth (N.H.) Herald, Rensselaer plans to bring in about $694,000 in business annually. The contract is for one year unless renegotiated by the parties involved.

Ships are expected to originate at the Rensselaer facility where they will be partially loaded, then proceed to New Hampshire to complete loading.

Six ships per year are anticipated to pass through the port.

Grimmel Industries will manage the New Hampshire port operation.

"Plans are to start operation at the New Hampshire port as soon as possible," said Tim Garrity, Grimmel general manager.

Scrap metal will be trucked into Portsmouth and stockpiled at the port until it can be loaded on ships for export. Garrity said the bulk of the business will be export, with some domestic trade possible should the export market slow down.

An average of 90,000 tons of scrap metal will move through the port each year, stored on a three-acre site.

The facility is expected to operate 24 hours a day. The companies expect to move as many as 20 trucks a day to the site where scrap metal can be delivered before the material is loaded unto vessels for export shipments. The material moving to the port will come primarily from New England.

Rensselaer will pay $12,000 annually in scale-house fees, $50,000 per acre in storage fees, plus all applicable terminal charges.