Philadelphia to double container capacity

It will result in more than $300m worth of investment in the port’s infrastructure, warehousing, and equipment. The programme will aim to double container capacity, position the port for future growth, increase tax revenues and create new jobs.

The initiative will begin early next year and is expected to continue through to 2020.

Governor Wolf, said: “This capital investment programme will give the Port of Philadelphia the tools it needs to improve its competitive position and create thousands of family-sustaining, middle class jobs while increasing state revenues.”

“With its major economic impacts throughout the state, my administration understands the value of Pennsylvania’s port assets in Philadelphia.”

$200m of the Capital Investment Programme will be invested in the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, which is the port’s largest maritime facility.

These improvements include four new electric post-Panamax container cranes and the construction of new ones. As well as a deeper 45-foot depth at the terminal’s marginal berths to match the new 45-foot depth of the Delaware River’s main channel.

Officials of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) predict that these improvements will result in no less than a doubling of the cargo-handling capacity at the terminal.

Its container-handling capacity will increase with a 900,000 TEU capacity resulting from the improvements, scalable to exceed 1.2m TEU capacity in the future.

The Port’s Automobile Import/Export facility, which currently processes 150,000 cars and employs more than 300 direct workers will also benefit by receiving about $90m of the Governor’s Capital Investment Programme.

Since 2010, Glovis America been the main customer of the Port’s Auto Processing facility, located in South Philadelphia adjacent to the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, bringing Hyundai and Kia automobiles on vessels for eventual distribution to dealerships throughout the region.

Glenn Clift, President and CEO of Glovis America, said: “We are grateful to partner with the PRPA and the Commonwealth to create a world class destination auto port to that will meet our needs for Hyundai and Kia as well as providing the ability to expand into auto exporting.”

He added: “The addition of space and ability to consolidate our foot print at the port improves our ability to make Philadelphia an aggressive cost competitive port. It also ensures our long-term commitment to grow jobs and revenues in the Commonwealth.”

The Governor’s administration worked closely with the Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority, the port’s staff, and business and labour leaders throughout the Port to develop the most effective capital programme.

“Being good corporate neighbours is of great importance to us, so the Port will approach these improvements in an environmentally sensitive manner,” explained Jeff Theobald, executive director and CEO of the PRPA.

He concluded: “PRPA’s new Diversity Outreach Program will assure that inclusion of women, minorities, veterans, and other traditionally-underutilized groups will be a major goal as contractors and subcontractors are engaged during the construction process.”