The Alabama State Port Authority announced that along with the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) signed the Mobile Harbor Pre-Construction, Engineering and Design Agreement that marks the deepening and widening of Alabama’s only deep-water seaport.
The harbour upgrade is in line with the investments in Alabama’s seaport to ensure economies of scale and competitive rates for the seaport’s shippers.
The phase 3 of the $50 million container terminal expansion is scheduled to be complete in early 2020, providing additional 20 acres of handling yard and extending the dock to allow simultaneous berth of two Post-Panamax sized ships.
ASPA director and chief executive officer James K. Lyons commented
This agreement is a critical step toward realizing the port’s ability to accommodate the larger ships serving the world’s major trade lanes, while improving vessel transit efficiencies and safety in our port … As demand dictates, we’re positioned to respond quickly to further expansion.
Following the USACE Record of Decision launched in September, the project will deepen the existing Bar, Bay and River Channels Bar, by 5 feet each to a project depth of 50 ft, (15.24m), with additional depths for wave allowances, advanced maintenance, and allowable over depth for dredging, total depths of 56, 54, and 54 ft, respectively.
Aditionally, the project includes widening the Bay Channel by 100 feet (328.08m) for three nautical miles to facilitate a two-way vessel traffic and other safety improvements. Construction on the modifications is expected to begin in late 2020.
Concluding, in early 2019 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is awarding a grant of US$400,000 to the Alabama State Port Authority in Mobile, Ala., to support efforts to reduce diesel emissions.
