APM Terminals Mobile in Alabama will add two new super-post panamax STS cranes and expand the container yard by 20 acres as part of a $40 milliom infrastructure investment.
The port upgrade and expansion plans are in response to growing demand in the US Southeast by Alabama’s primary port, APM Terminals announced.
APM Terminals Mobile has a current annual throughput capacity of 350,000 TEU with two post-panamax cranes now in service.
“Mobile is a great place to be and we look forward to growing the terminal as the Gulf Coast’s gateway to the South Atlantic,” said Jeff De Best, chief operating officer of APM Terminals.
The addition of the two cranes and the expansion of the current facility by 20 acres will enable APM Terminals Mobile to accommodate both increased business from shipping lines serving Alabama’s growing industrial base, as well as the larger vessels calling US Gulf ports following the opening of the expanded Panama Canal locks.
With a 13.7-metre depth, APM Terminals Mobile is already handling vessels of up to 8,400 TEU capacity. The widening of the Panama Canal locks will allow transit of vessels of up to 12,600 TEU capacity.
The Alabama State Port Authority has commenced construction of an Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) for Mobile port which will connect APM Terminals facility with rail service to major markets in the US Southeast and Mid-West. The ICTF is scheduled to become operational in early 2016.
The growing industries of automobile manufacturing and shipments of materials and equipment for aircraft are also expected to benefit the port.
Annual throughput at APM Terminals Mobile will grow to 475,000 TEU at the completion of this phase of expansion. The facility has future expansion capabilities to grow its annual throughput capacity to over 1.3m TEU.
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