SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
PHILADELPHIA TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Marine Terminal is adding two new ship-to-shore cranes for a total of four— 50-year assets that will boost productivity by approximately 40 %. PhilaPort’ s Cold Distribution Center, slated to open in 2026, will add over 26,000 temperature-controlled pallet positions less than five minutes from the docks.
Philadelphia’ s dominance in the perishable freight industry is rooted in history.
“ It started with small farmers who invested in refrigerated warehousing to extend their seasons,” Mahoney said.“ They became experts at cold warehousing for imported fruit, and eventually Australian meat exporters asked them to do freezer warehousing.”
This resulted in the gateway merging freezer capabilities and cold-chain expertise beyond what fruit alone would have required, positioning it to handle virtually any temperature-controlled commodity that followed. Those early pioneers built relationships with familyowned terminal operators, truckers and freight forwarders.
“ A sense of community, multigenerational partnerships and seamless operations between modes lasts to this day,” Mahoney said.“ This gives cold cargo customers the confidence to trust PhilaPort.”
That trust is backed by regional infrastructure that is second to none. The port boasts approximately 4,200 on-dock reefer plugs; more US Department of Agriculture( USDA)-authorized fumigation treatment facilities than any other US port; and access to over 50 nearby coldstorage facilities.
“ The Port of Philadelphia delivers a best-in-class cold-chain experience,” Holt said.“ Rapid vessel turnaround, efficient inspections and fast gate-out ensure product quality and speed to market.”
At 721 Logistics, particularly its J & K Fresh East division, customs brokerage services are provided to importers of fresh produce. The business specializes in USDA, US Food and Drug Administration, and regulated US Customs and Border Protection( CBP) agriculture imports.
“ Forty percent of the US population is within one day’ s drive from Philly,” said Lawrence Antonucci, president of 721 Logistics.“ You don’ t have the congestion issues getting out of the port as some of the other East Coast facilities, and you
Holt Logistics
have the same proximity to warehouse and distribution centers along the New Jersey Turnpike.”
“ We operate under the mantra of‘ your cargo is our cargo,’” he added.“ Things don’ t always go exactly as planned, so having a team that cares,
communicates clearly and adjusts quickly makes a big difference.”
Gloucester Marine Terminal has evolved from a breakbulk terminal into a hybrid operation capable of handling both breakbulk and containerized cargo.
Equipment advantages
While every member of the port community plays a role in cargo mobility, the region’ s supply of cold-chain equipment is unparalleled.
SeaCube specializes in refrigerated and cold-chain equipment and is one of the largest, most influential players in this space.
“ We stand out as a customerfocused intermodal equipment solutions provider,” said Robert Sappio, CEO of SeaCube.“ We combine one of the world’ s largest reefer fleets with advanced technology and a strong commitment to sustainability.”
The company is the single largest
” You don’ t have the congestion issues getting out of [ PhilaPort ] as some of the other East Coast facilities.” investor in refrigerated containers and gensets globally. That scale is paramount.
“ In an increasingly volatile environment, SeaCube is always in stock and in selection for refrigerated equipment,” Sappio said.“ We have preferred production line time with our key vendors.”
SeaCube’ s investments in smart container systems, telematics and datadriven insights provide shippers with real-time visibility into cargo conditions. www. joc. com May 4, 2026 | Journal of Commerce 57