On February 29, 2024, we were proud to honor Edward T. Moriarty, Assistant Area Port Director (ret), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Philadelphia, at our annual Spirit of the Port Luncheon.
Spirit of the Port represents an annual celebration and gathering of the region’s vibrant maritime community. The highlight of the luncheon is the bestowal of the Spirit of the Port Award upon an individual who embodies the humanity of one of the region’s most historic and important industries.
Ed has been a part of the greater Philadelphia trade community for the past 17+ years as part of a distinguished 32-year career with U. S. Customs and Border Protection.
Under his leadership, CBP/private sector partnerships have built new Containerized Examination Stations, new General Order warehouses, and the busiest agriculture inspection facility for perishables in the nation. Up and down the river, the number of bonded facilities, foreign trade zones, and container freight stations have doubled to handle the increase in cargo, both sea and air.
CBP has collaborated in developing innovative and first in nation pilot programs to address Agriculture wood packing material and dunnage challenges, and in the shadows of the Ukraine invasion was successful in finding a dignified solution for the abandoned Ukrainian crew off the arrested vessel – The Ocean Force. CPB and the Port Community have rallied together in response to the CoVid-19 pandemic, united for the Pope’s visit in 2015 and for the historic Afghanistan air lift via Operation Allies Welcome, and persisted in successfully managing the largest cocaine seizure in the history of the United States.
