If you’ve ever driven toward the Locust Point neighborhood in South Baltimore, you’ve seen it. It’s hard to miss. Huge. Industrial. 2001 East McComas Street isn’t just a random warehouse address or a spot on a map. It is the physical heartbeat of the Port of Baltimore’s automotive and Ro/Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) operations. We’re talking about the Mid-Atlantic Terminal.
Most people just see rows of cars. Thousands of them. Shiny roofs reflecting the Maryland sun like a weird, metallic lake. But honestly, if this specific patch of asphalt stopped working, the U.S. economy would feel a genuine, painful shudder.
It's about logistics.
The Strategic Power of 2001 East McComas Street
Location is everything in shipping. You can’t just put a massive vehicle terminal anywhere. 2001 East McComas Street sits in a "sweet spot" of Baltimore’s geography. It’s tucked right behind the Fort McHenry Tunnel, providing immediate access to I-95. That matters because when a vessel drops off 2,000 Maseratis or heavy-duty JCB excavators, those machines need to get on a truck or a train fast.
The Port of Baltimore has held the title of the nation’s top port for high and heavy farm and construction machinery for years. A huge chunk of that reputation is built right here at this address. It’s managed largely by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Solutions (WWS). They aren't just parking cars. They’re running a sophisticated processing center where vehicles are inspected, outfitted with accessories, and prepped for dealerships across the entire East Coast and Midwest.
Think about the scale.
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The terminal covers roughly 90 acres. That’s a lot of pavement. But it’s highly specialized pavement. It has to support the weight of massive "Mafi" trailers and heavy machinery that would crush a standard parking lot.
What Actually Happens Behind the Fence?
People think a port is just a giant closet. You put stuff in, you take stuff out. Kinda true, but mostly wrong.
At 2001 East McComas Street, the "processing" part of the name is the secret sauce. When a vehicle rolls off a PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) vessel, it’s often in a "base" state. In these shops, technicians might install floor mats, roof racks, or even complex electronic systems. This is known as Value Added Services (VAS). By doing this at the port—specifically at the Mid-Atlantic Terminal—manufacturers save a fortune on inland transportation costs. Why ship a car to a secondary facility when you can finish the build right where it landed?
The Intermodal Connection
One of the biggest advantages of this specific site is its rail connectivity. It’s served by CSX.
Rail is the lifeblood of 2001 East McComas Street. You’ll see the tracks snaking directly into the terminal area. This allows for seamless "ship-to-rail" transfers. If a German automaker sends a shipment of SUVs meant for Chicago or St. Louis, they aren't all going on individual car haulers. They’re being loaded onto multi-level railcars right there on McComas Street. It is efficient. It is loud. It is vital.
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The Economic Ripple Effect
Let’s talk numbers, but not the boring kind. The Port of Baltimore supports over 15,000 direct jobs. A significant portion of those workers—longshoremen from ILA Local 333, processors, security, and clerical staff—spend their days at or around 2001 East McComas Street.
When the Francis Scott Key Bridge tragically collapsed in early 2024, the world suddenly realized how much we rely on this specific infrastructure. While the Mid-Atlantic Terminal is technically "inside" the bridge area (meaning it was cut off from the sea for a time), its importance became the headline of every logistics journal in the world. The scramble to reopen the channel was, in many ways, a scramble to get 2001 East McComas Street back to 100% capacity.
The state of Maryland, through the Maryland Port Administration (MPA), has poured millions into the South Locust Point area. They’ve deepened berths. They’ve expanded acreage. They’ve reinforced the piers. All of this was done because the demand for Ro/Ro cargo isn't slowing down. As electric vehicles (EVs) become more common, this terminal is evolving again. EVs are heavier because of their batteries. That requires different fire safety protocols and different weight-bearing considerations for the terminal infrastructure.
Myths About the Address
You’ll sometimes hear people say this is just a "storage lot." That’s a huge misconception.
Inventory at 2001 East McComas Street moves. Fast. If a car sits there for more than a few days, someone is losing money. It’s a high-velocity environment. Another myth is that it’s open to the public. It definitely isn't. This is a TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) regulated facility. You need federal clearance just to get past the gate. The security is intense because the value of the "cargo" sitting on those lots at any given moment can easily exceed half a billion dollars.
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Why Companies Like Wallenius Wilhelmsen Stay Here
Efficiency is the only metric that matters in global trade.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen chose to anchor their Mid-Atlantic operations here because the "turnaround time" is among the best in the world. The pilots who navigate the Chesapeake Bay know the approach to the McComas Street berths perfectly. The crane operators and ramp drivers are some of the most experienced in the country.
There’s also the weather factor. Baltimore is far enough inland to be protected from some of the harshest Atlantic surges that hit ports like Savannah or Norfolk, but it still offers deep-water access.
2001 East McComas Street is a fortress of commerce.
Actionable Insights for the Logistics Professional
If you are looking at the Port of Baltimore for your supply chain, you have to understand the specific layout of the South Locust Point terminals.
- Prioritize Ro/Ro: If your cargo rolls, McComas Street is your destination. Don't try to force Ro/Ro cargo through container-heavy terminals like Seagirt if you can avoid it.
- Watch the Gate Cycles: Traffic on McComas Street can get backed up during peak vessel discharges. Coordinating your trucking pickups for mid-morning, after the initial rush, often saves hours in turn time.
- Leverage the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ): Much of the area around 2001 East McComas Street operates under FTZ status. This allows you to defer, reduce, or eliminate duties on imported goods. It’s a massive cash-flow win for companies processing parts or vehicles on-site.
- Understand the Rail Limits: While CSX service is excellent, railcar availability can fluctuate. If you're moving high volumes out of 2001 East McComas Street, ensure your 3PL has a "drop-and-hook" arrangement to mitigate rail delays.
The reality of 2001 East McComas Street is that it’s a blue-collar miracle. It’s a place where massive steel ships, some longer than three football fields, dance into a narrow berth to unload the machines that build our houses and drive our families. It’s not just an address. It’s the gate through which the world enters the American Mid-Atlantic.