Alabama State Port Authority News

Containerized cargo volumes through Alabama's Port of Mobile continue to climb in 2021 as shippers seek uncongested gateways servicing key North American markets. In August, container volumes increased 34% over August 2020 volume, while year-to-date volume posted 27% over the same period last year, the port said Thursday, attributing part of that success to a 37% increase in refrigerated containers due to nearly $74 million in refrigerated facilities investment at the port to support cold cargo supply chains.

The State of Alabama and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers entered into the Project Partnership Agreement twio deepen and widen the Port of Mobile to 50 feet in late 2024 or early 2025.Colonel Sebastien P. Joly, Commander of the Mobile District, and John C. Driscoll, Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Alabama State Port Authority, signed the agreement, which allows the Corps of Engineers will move into contracting and construction phases of the approximately $365.7 million project…

Longtime shipping industry executive Bryan Brandes has been named Maritime Director at the Port of Oakland. The port said today he was selected following a nationwide search. Brandes, a 25-year maritime veteran, replaces John Driscoll who left to manage the Alabama State Port Authority.Brandes will lead a staff of 20 responsible for one of the nation’s 10 largest container seaports. Oakland’s Maritime Director oversees everything from facilities management to real estate negotiations.“Bryan is coming in at a crucial time for us and we’re eager to put his skill and industry experience to work…

The Alabama Port Authority completed its 400-foot container dock extension at the APM Terminals Mobile facility on March 20, and three days later, the terminal for the first time simultaneously handled two containerships at the newly expanded berth.Part of Alabama’s seaport modernization program to accommodate larger vessels, the berth extension enables two x 8,000-10,000 TEU be handled simultaneously. The quay extension was part of a $50 million Phase 3 expansion that increased…

The Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) announced that maritime executive Richard T. Clark will be its new deputy director.James K. Lyons, director and chief executive officer of the ASPA said that the appointment is effective July 16, 2019.“We conducted a nationwide search with one of the country’s premier maritime and port industry recruiting firms and the Port Authority received resumes from quite a few qualified candidates,” said Lyons. “Clark stood out amongst all the applicants and was selected for this position. We look forward to Rick joining the Port Authority team.”Clark, with over 30 years of maritime industry experience, began his career at Cooper T. Smith in New Orleans before joining Puerto Rico Marine Management, Inc.

Plans are in motion to develop a new vehicle processing roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) facility at Alabama’s Port of Mobile in the U.S.Today in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Alabama State Port Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AutoMobile International Terminal, a joint venture of Terminal Zárate S.A. and SAAM Puertos S.A., to develop and operate the new $60 million facility, which is expected to be completed in 2019.The agreement marks a giant step forward in supporting automotive logistics in the Americas and abroad…

The Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) and APM Terminals boards of directors in separate actions have approved a $49.5 million expansion of the container facility at the Port of Mobile. The Port Authority and APM Terminals jointly will deliver a Phase 3 expansion that includes a dock extension and an additional 20 acres of improved yard to maintain excess capacity to accommodate new business opportunities. When completed, the project will 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.

APM Terminals Mobile welcomes Arkansas-based global retail giant Walmart’s plans for a new International Distribution Center to be opened 15 miles from the port. The sixth of Walmart’s US international distribution centers, the Irvington, Alabama facility will handle Walmart’s import cargoes destined for Walmart’s Regional Distribution Centers in the American South. The recently completed Panama Canal lock widening project will permit vessels of up to 13,000 TEU capacity to transit the canal, bringing larger vessels and new opportunities to the deep-water terminal strategically located on the US Gulf Coast. The APM Terminals Mobile terminal opened in September of 2008. With a depth of 45 feet, the facility is currently equipped with two STS cranes capable of a 19-row reach.

The Alabama State Port Authority has announced a new memorandum of understanding with the National Port Administration of Cuba, potentially laying the groundwork for future trade deals. The five-year, cooperative agreement  was signed at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Port of Mobile and the Cuban ports marks the first ports agreement signed on U.S. soil since 1959. James K. Lyons, chief executive officer of the Alabama State Port Authority and Rene Rolando Fernandez de Lara Cabezas, director of Inland Waterway and Sea Transport, of the Republic of Cuba Ministry of Transportation…

As its Annual Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting in Cincinnati on November 15, 2016, Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI) named Tim Parker, President of Parker Towing, as its Chairman of the Board. Parker succeeds Merritt Lane, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canal Barge Company. Parker serves on the Board of Directors of Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, Inc.; as Past Chairman of the Board of the Alabama State Port Authority; Past Member of the Inland Waterways Users Board…

Stand-alone U.S. port ratings remain largely in the 'A' category despite volume fluctuations during economic downturns, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. 'Approximately 95% of port sector ratings currently have Stable Outlooks, demonstrating the relatively low credit risk and the resilience of port cash flows,' said Emma Griffith, Director in Fitch's Global Infrastructure Group. Fitch upgraded the rating on two ports during the past 12 months (Virginia Port Authority to 'A+' and Alabama State Port Authority to 'A-') as well as revised the Rating Outlook on one port to Positive (Hillsborough County Port District). Highest rated ports are typically those with a strong underlying market or franchise driving demand…

Panama Canal expansion will bring higher volumes, larger vessels, new trading patterns, trends analysed in a new report. As the completion of the Panama Canal expansion nears, a number of concerns have surfaced regarding the ability of U.S. ports to keep up with the more aggressive port infrastructure progress witnessed overseas. Colliers International released its 'North American Port Analysis Report', which highlights the rapid growth of intermodalism – the study of various transportation modes such as seaport/ship and rail as interconnected rather than isolated – and the need for significant investment in U.S. ports Post-Panamax, or post-Panama Canal expansion. •    Intermodalism: In the past 55 years, intermodalism has advanced from the equivalent of the ice age to the space age.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced the appointment of 29 members to the new Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC), established to advise the Department on matters relating to marine transportation. “Shifting some of our freight from the highways to open inland waterways is a fuel-efficient, cost-effective way to move goods and reduce roadway congestion,” said Secretary LaHood. The Department will task the MTSNAC with developing recommendations on establishing new marine highway services and port infrastructure development, among other issues. “The experience brought to bear by this diverse panel is impressive,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda. “These maritime experts have a lot to contribute.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), a trade group representing port authorities throughout the Western Hemisphere, has selected 22 seaports to be recognized for exemplary projects, programs and initiatives at its annual awards event later this summer. The awards, for achievements in facilities engineering, environmental improvement, information technology and communications, will be presented to winning ports at a Sept. 14 luncheon in conjunction with AAPA's 100th Annual Convention in Seattle (https://www.aapa2011.org/main.aspx), which runs Sept. 11-15. * the Port of Long Beach, winner of the 2011 Dan Maynard Communications Award for Overall Excellence, which is bestowed on the port earning the most award points in AAPA's Communications Awards Program competition.

The USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) will be commissioned June 4, 2011, at the Alabama State Port Authority Pier 2 Terminal in a ceremony co-hosted by the City of Pensacola and the City of Mobile. The commissioning was originally planned for NAS Pensacola as part of the celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation. Mobile offered to co-host the ceremony at the Port of Mobile after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced the channel leading to the Pensacola base would not be dredged to an adequate depth in time for the commissioning. “The Navy is extremely selective about who can and should be approved to host such an event,” said Admiral Robert Kelly, USN (Ret), vice chairman of Armed Services for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

Barnhart Crane & Rigging Company began providing heavy lift barge crane services to cargo customers at the Port of Mobile. In the company’s first lift, the new 900T heavy lift crane transloaded to barge a 102 metric ton down coiler machine from Grieg Star Shipping’s vessel the M/V Star Grip. The lift operation took place at the Alabama State Port Authority’s Pier 2 terminal. Stevedore services were provided by CSA Stevedoring and Nord-Sud Shipping Inc., served as the vessel agent.

Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) Administrator Michael D. Tagert signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster economic growth, spur international trade and promote the All-Water Route (the route from Asia to the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts via the Panama Canal). During an official ceremony in Point Clear, Alabama, both parties affirmed their commitment to mutual growth and cooperation. Renewable after two years, the ACP-TTW agreement will allow for joint marketing ventures, information sharing and technological interchange. Based in Columbus, Mississippi, the TTW is a four-member interstate compact consisting of the States of Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Adesta, LLC, a systems integrator and project management company for communication networks and electronic security systems was awarded a $2.2 million contract from the Alabama State Port Authority to enhance security at the Port of Mobile. Adesta will design, build and install a video analytics-based intrusion detection system for the Port’s McDuffie Coal Terminal, one of the largest coal terminals in the country. The expected completion date for the project is December 2006. The system will protect against intrusion or invasion and restrict personnel to designated areas. The security measures include video analytics for intrusion detection and monitoring vessel traffic and a wireless communications link to the Port Police building…

The Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) is moving forward on construction of the intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF), the second element of the Port’s Choctaw Point project. “Mobile Container Terminal, which was the first part of the project, is rapidly growing,” said Jimmy Lyons, Director and CEO of the Alabama State Port Authority. “We have three services at MCT now and expect to add more. The intermodal container transfer facility will add much-needed infrastructure to reduce the number of trucks on our highways eliminating both congestion and emissions.

The Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) has issued a request for expression of interest (RFEI) in the 74-acre Garrows Bend Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) in which the Port Authority is seeking private sector participation from terminal operators/developers in the development of the intermodal terminal. “This is the first step in the process by the Port Authority to initiate efforts to identify a private sector partner for development of the intermodal facility and is a continuation of the Choctaw Point project that started in early 2000…

CG Railway, Inc., located in Mobile, Ala., operates the only rail vessel service in the United States market providing an alternate transportation mode between the U.S. and southern Mexico. Every four days, CG Railway provides a safe, fast and eco-friendly rail-ferry service transporting all types of rail cars to and from Mobile, Ala. and Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. CG Railway’s direct service provides competitive rates with fast reliable transit. The faster transit secures additional savings to the supply chain through optimum equipment utilization and lower inventory carry cost. Each of CG Railway’s two rail ferries have the capacity to carry 115 standard rail cars and travels only 900 miles by sea as opposed to 1,400 miles via the traditional Mexican–U.S. border crossings.

On April 21, 2010 Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Administrator/CEO Alberto Alemán Zubieta and Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) Director/CEO James K. Lyons signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly help foster commercial activity between the two entities. The MOU will increase cooperation, such as joint marketing and coordination on modernization and expansion projects, and help boost trade along the “All-Water Route,” the route from Asia to the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts via the Panama Canal. This arrangement is renewable on a two-year basis.

The Alabama State Port Authority and Mobile Container Terminal, LLC announced a new all-water container service between the Port of Mobile and Far East. CMA CGM added the Ports of Mobile and Pusan, Korean to its PEX3 service between the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Asia. CMA CGM, through its division, Terminal Link, is a partner in the 18 month-old Mobile Container Terminal at the Port of Mobile. In 2005, CMA CGM’s division Terminal Link, APM Terminals Americas, a subsidiary of the A.P.