APM Terminals, ASPA invest in Port of Mobile

APM Terminals and the Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) have approved a $49.5 million expansion of the container facility at the Port of Mobile.    The Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) and APM Terminals have approved a $49.5 million expansion of the container facility at the Port of Mobile, ASPA announced on Wednesday. 
   The Port Authority and APM Terminals will jointly launch a Phase 3 expansion that includes a 400-ft dock extension, super Post-Panamax crane rails and upgrades to the fender system will accommodate 14,000 TEU ships. and an additional 20 acres of improved yard to maintain excess capacity. Once completed, the project will accommodate an annual throughput capacity of 650,000 TEUs.    
   The project is part of a five phase plan that can grow the terminal’s annual throughput capacity to 1.5 million TEUs, said ASPA. The dock extension will take approximately 24 months to complete, while the yard will take 18 months to complete. 
   “The Phase 3 expansion enables us to stay well ahead of the growth pattern we’ve seen in the Port of Mobile, as well as add dock space to support the growing vessel sizes that are coming to the terminal. It will help us maintain the efficiency levels our customers have come to expect, while also creating the extra capacity needed to support potential future economic growth in our market,” said Brian Harold, managing director for APM Terminals Mobile.  
   Previously, Phase 2 investments commissioned 20 acres and installed two new super Post-Panamax cranes to serve new business through the terminal, including containers bound for Walmart’s 2.6 million square foot import distribution center at Mobile, Ala., said ASPA.  Phase 3 will also compliment the recently-completed Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, which is accessible by Canadian National (CN), CSX, Norfolk Southern, Kansas City Southern and BNSF. Currently, CN provides container intermodal rail service to the U.S. mid-west and Canada for the port.   
   “Container intermodal growth continues to drive investment at the Port of Mobile. These prior investments have competitively positioned the port and established Mobile as an alternate gateway for U.S. trade. This expansion and our planned harbor deepening and widening program will provide both shippers and carriers with a cost effective, customer service oriented option,” said James K. Lyons, chief executive of the Alabama State Port Authority.