APM Terminals (APMT) has announced that its facility at Port Alabama, APM Terminals Mobile, has completed the third phase of its $450 million expansion project.
In a statement, APMT said the Alabama Port Authority had completed its 400-foot container berth on 20 March before, three days later, it simultaneously handled two container ships.
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The extended berth quay enables two container ships of approximately 10,000 TEU capacity simultaneously. The quay extension alone cost $50 million and complements the first two phases of expansion, which has included investments in marine and rail intermodal terminals.
Investments to date will soon be enhanced by the recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued permit and receipt of full federal and state funding to take the Mobile Harbor to -50 feet draft by 2024. Construction on the channel and harbor improvements is expected to begin later this year.
“We continue to seek out and implement innovation and world class infrastructure to meet the needs of our carriers and shippers,” said Jimmy Lyons, director and chief executive officer for the Alabama State Port Authority.
“We’re very pleased with both carrier and shipper confidence in our program as they continue to introduce larger ships, add capacity and increase volumes through the Port.”
Brian Harold, Managing Director of APM Terminals Mobile said, “We are very excited to complete this project which allows us to offer a significant increase in berthing windows to our customers. This expansion also enables us to offer improved capabilities to quickly service vessels that may arrive ahead-of, or behind schedule.”
The new dock is also capable of housing more cranes – which allows more cranes to be added in the future. Other recent improvements include an expanded outbound gate (from four to six lanes) and an expanded Intermodal Rail Facility (by ten acres).
Across the street from the terminal, a nearly 300,000 square foot refrigerated warehouse facility, is being built by MCT Logistics and is aimed for completion later this year.
APM Terminals Mobile currently has four direct all-water weekly services from Asia, calling various Ports in China and Southeast Asia; three of them make direct calls in Busan as well. The facility handled 419,316 TEU in 2019. “Jimmy Lyons and the Alabama State Port Authority have been a great partner in growing the container volumes in the Port of Mobile.
Since the opening of the container terminal in 2008 we have consistently worked together on short and long-term commercial efforts, as well as the strategic development plans of the facility,” added Harold.
