NJ’s Successful Seaport Saga
The state’s maritime hubs helped transform America’s East Coast into an economic engine.
By George N. Saliba, Contributing Writer On Jul 16, 2026The broader genesis for modern New York and New Jersey can be traced to the 1600s when Dutch settlers realized the Hudson River offered strategic access and safety for ships, while helping to promote their trade in beaver pelts and other goods. In New Jersey, early settlers likewise established maritime activity in locales including, but not limited to, what is today Jersey City, Newark, Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, as well as Salem and Cumberland counties.
During the Revolutionary War, American privateers leveraged their New Jersey-based vessels to attack British ships and capture and/or destroy them, and separately – among other notable fighting – in 1779, “Light-Horse Harry” Lee used a land-based attack to capture a British-held outpost (Paulus Hook) on what is today Jersey City’s coast.
Following the Revolutionary War and into the 19th century, the Hudson and the East River (New York) were engaged in maritime activities, but the Port of New York Authority – charged with the task of developing an organized port district across 1,500 square miles – wasn’t created until 1921; of note, the words “New Jersey” would not be added to the entity’s name until 1972.
The port grew in myriad ways: By 1951, the Port Authority states that Port Newark had some 21 berths and could handle especially large ships. That said, the modern maritime era arguably would not start until 1956, when the very first standardized cargo containers “were stacked and then unloaded to a compatible truck chassis.”
With containerized shipments popularized in subsequent years, the Port Authority debuted the world’s first container seaport – Elizabeth-Port Authority Marine Terminal – in 1962. Among other developments, the Port Authority leased Howland Hook Marine Terminal from the City of New York in 1985 and reopened it in 1996 following substantial redevelopment including $4 million in dredging.
With particularly large Post Panamax ships central to international trade following the widening of the Panama Canal in 2016, the Bayonne Bridge was raised to a clearance of 215 feet – a project that was completed in 2019 and was necessary for the port to remain competitive.
“The New York-New Jersey seaport has been essential to this region’s economy since before the United States was a country,” Mike Bozza, deputy port director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, tells New Jersey Business Magazine. “The Port Authority was established in 1921 to bring order to what had become one of the world’s most active and complex trade gateways. Over the past century, we’ve grown that foundation into something our founders never could’ve imagined.
“Today, as the busiest seaport on the East Coast, the Port of New York and New Jersey supports nearly 580,000 jobs across the region and generates $163 billion in business income annually. Our focus is on ensuring this port continues to grow alongside the region for the next 250 years.”
South Jersey
Ports have likewise expanded further south in New Jersey. In the 1700s, ports such as Raritan Landing and Great Egg Harbor as well as Burlington, Salem, and Toms River were busy. In the 20th century, The South Jersey Port Corporation (today South Jersey Ports) was formed approximately 100 years ago. A total of four ports are now located in Camden, Paulsboro and Salem, and primarily handle bulk and break bulk cargo – and far fewer containerized shipments. For the first 10 months of 2025, the South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC) handled approximately 2.92 million short tons of cargo, reflecting a 13.5% increase over the same period in 2024.
Overall, among other accomplishments in recent years, South Jersey Ports “set a new import steel record with nearly 1 million tons crossing its wharves in 2014,” and in 2017, the Paulsboro Marine Terminal was opened.
“As we prepare to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the creation of the South Jersey Port District, we recognize the vision that helped shape the future of maritime commerce in our region,” David Mayer, executive director & CEO, South Jersey Ports, tells New Jersey Business Magazine. “A century ago, New Jersey enacted legislation establishing the South Jersey Port District and the South Jersey Port Commission, granting it the authority to lease, erect, construct, equip, maintain, and operate port facilities across Mercer, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, and Cape May counties. From that foundation, South Jersey Ports has grown into four ports across three cities and become a powerful economic engine for the region.”
Mayer adds, “Today, we are investing in expanded rail capacity and more sustainable transportation infrastructure to give our customers greater flexibility and keep the supply chain moving efficiently. The future of South Jersey’s economy depends on resilient, modern ports, and we are proud to be building that future right here. We look forward to working closely with Governor Mikie Sherrill and state leaders to continue advancing the economic strength and long-term success of New Jersey’s maritime industry.”
Conclusion
Situated on the East Coast, New Jersey has been an epicenter for international maritime activities for hundreds of years, both importing products from abroad and exporting American products to the world at large. The fact that goods can be transported to more than 46 million people within about a four hours’ drive from the Port of New York and New Jersey is one reason the state’s ports are poised to remain juggernauts in an ongoing international trade equation.
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