Nearly 100 residents from Newark and the surrounding area stopped by the Newark Public Library to attend “Rewarding Careers in Newark’s Backyard,” an event sponsored by the Council on Port Performance (CPP). Representatives from the Port of New York and New Jersey’s supply chain provided attendees with information on career pathways available at the Port. Lillian Borrone, Director of STV Inc., and former Port director for the Port of NY and NJ, spoke about the history of the cargo industry and provided insight into the industry’s current state. The program also included a panel career conversation moderated by Ray Martinelli, Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution Talent Network Manager for the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP). Panel participants representing terminal operations, third party logistics, port operations and project cargo were asked a series of career journey questions by Martinelli.

The event was held on April 26, a day that celebrates the birth of Containerization, which took place 63 years ago at Port Newark. On this day in 1956, a converted tanker, the Ideal X, with a specially fitted deck carrying 58 cargo-laden truck-trailers, departed Port Newark for Houston, Texas. The ship was the creation of North Carolina businessman and trucking magnate Malcom McLean, who after becoming frustrated with the inefficiencies of unloading trucks by hand, redesigned truck trailers into two parts—a truck bed on wheels and an independent box trailer, or container. He also invented an angled corner post system that allowed the containers to be stacked securely on the ship. And with these inventions, the container revolution was born!

The Council on Port Performance (CPP) was formed to provide oversight on the implementation of programs and initiatives that will improve efficiency and service reliability in the Port of New York and New Jersey. The Council on Port Performance’s next career awareness event will be held at Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, May 15, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information, visit: www.panynj.gov/port/council-on-port-performance.html