By Jite Eriabie
The Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) and APM Terminals (APMT) have announced a USD 49.5 million expansion of the container facility at the Port of Mobile, Alabama.
The duo will jointly deliver a Phase 3 expansion that includes a dock extension and an additional 20 acres of improved yard to maintain excess capacity, ASPA and APMT said in a statement.
When completed, the facility is expected to accommodate an annual throughput capacity of 650,000 TEU.
“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,” Brian Harold, managing director for APM Terminals Mobile, commented.
The Phase 3 is part of a 5 Phase, long-term plan that can grow the terminal’s annual throughput capacity to 1.5 million TEU. Under the Phase 3 development, a 400-foot dock extension, super Post-Panamax crane rails and upgrades to the fender system will accommodate 14,000 TEU ships.
The dock extension will take approximately 24 months to complete, while the yard will take 18 months to complete. When completed, Phase 3 will complement the recently commissioned Phase II investments that delivered 20 acres and installed two new super Post-Panamax cranes.
Since 2005, the Port Authority and its partners have invested USD 535 million in shore-side and channel improvements to support the larger ships calling the Port of Mobile.
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