DSPC Signed a Five-Year Agreement with Pacific Delaware, Inc.

Wilmington, Del. – The Diamond State Port Corp (DSPC) and Pacific Delaware, Inc. (PDI) have signed a new five-year agreement with a two-year extension option for the storage and distribution of Chilean fruit imports through the Port of Wilmington. PDI is a US corporation whose main customer, Swordfish Shipping, Inc., is represented in Chile by Pacific Seaways, a Chilean corporation that provides shipping services for Chilean fruit exporters. The Port of Wilmington is the largest gateway for Chilean fruit imports on the Delaware River and this contract, which runs through the year 2010 and perhaps beyond, will enable the Port to maintain its leadership position in this very important regional trade.

Left to Right: Pacific Delaware, Inc. President John Chagin, DSPC Executive Director Gene R. Bailey, Pacific Seaways Executive Director Francisco Labarca, DSPC Chairman and Secretary of Transportation Nathan Hayward, III, Consul General of Chile Jose Luis Morales-Molyneux, and Royal Fumigation President Roy Richardson. 

Pacific Delaware and Pacific Seaways have been customers of the Port since 1994.  Since then, their business volume has increased steadily from four million boxes up to the current level of about 14 million boxes. Each year in early December, grapes, plums, nectarines, peaches, and cherries begin arriving in Wilmington in specially constructed refrigerated ships. This program peaks in March and April and often extends through the early summer months when the apples and pears finish out the season.

To properly handle this cargo growth, the Port developed a web-based cargo loading and inventory management program used both in Chile and in Wilmington, constructed a 130,000 sf state of the art refrigerated warehouse in 1999, and now dedicates over 500,000 sf of its refrigerated and dry warehouse space to the Pacific Seaways program. This new agreement provides PDI additional warehouse space to foster its continued growth. 

Chilean fruit business supports 700 direct, indirect and induced jobs, and generates $2.1 million in tax revenue for the State of Delaware and the region. From Wilmington, Chilean fruit is distributed to supermarkets and retail outlets throughout eastern half of the United States and Canada.

“We are extremely pleased to extend our agreement and business relationship with the Port of Wilmington”, said President of Pacific Delaware, Inc., John S. Chagin. “The Port, Murphy Marine Services, our cargo stevedore, and Royal Fumigation, which ensures our delicious fruit meets all USDA requirements before reaching the market, are the best logistics team in the trade and have been instrumental in our market share growth”, he explained.

“I value greatly this unique relationship we have with our Chilean friends and appreciate this long-term extension of our partnership with PDI, Pacific Seaways and its stake holders in this trade”, remarked DSPC Executive Director, Gene Bailey. “We are very proud of our mutual success in bringing fantastic Chilean fruit to market. This business supports many good paying jobs in Delaware, creates a strong regional economic impact and enables the Port of Wilmington to contribute in a small way to a healthier life style for North American consumers”, Bailey added.

Founded in 1923, the Port of Wilmington is an important asset for the local and regional economy, generating more than 5,300 jobs and contributing over $23d operated by the Diamond State Port Corporation,
a corporation of the State of Delaware. For further information and digital photos contact: Vered Nohi-Becker (302) 472-7819, e-mail: vnbecker@port.state.de.us