Port of Mobile expands container capacity

The US$131 million project – known as Phase V – is, funded through federal appropriations and private investment from APM Terminals. It will increase berth capacity by 50%, allowing the terminal to handle three ultra-large container vessels simultaneously.

“This new berth is a strategic next step in making sure Mobile stays ahead of the growth curve,” said Brian Harold, managing director of APM Terminals Mobile.

“As cargo volumes grow, we’re committed to scaling further in full partnership with the port authority and our customers.”

The new berth will complement the recently completed US$366 million Mobile Harbor deepening project, which created the deepest container channel in the US Gulf.

Additional investments exceeding US$200 million are already underway, including a 33-acre container yard expansion, rail capacity upgrades and construction of a new rail flyover bridge enabling direct on-dock rail access.

Construction is set to begin in 2026, with completion expected 24 months later. Once finished, APM Terminals Mobile will have an annual berth capacity of 1.4 million teu, supported by seven ship-to-shore cranes.

The Alabama Port Authority and APM Terminals have also agreed to extend APM Terminals’ concession to operate the terminal until 2058, with two 10-year extension options.

“This expansion is about more than infrastructure — it’s about cementing Mobile’s position as the Gulf’s premier container gateway,” said Doug Otto, interim chief executive and director of the Alabama Port Authority.

“With the channel deepening complete, a new berth underway, the Phase IV expansion in progress, and APM Terminals’ continued partnership, we’re connecting businesses across Alabama and across the nation to global markets faster and more efficiently than ever before.”