APM Terminals and the Alabama Port Authority have agreed to move ahead with a $131m expansion at the Port of Mobile, adding a new 1,300-foot container berth to handle growing trade volumes through the Gulf of Mexico gateway.
The “Phase V” project will boost berth capacity by 50%, allowing the APM Terminals Mobile facility to handle up to three ultra-large containerships at once. The investment will be funded by federal appropriations to the Port Authority and private capital from APM Terminals, the port operating arm of Maersk.
Construction is set to begin in 2026, with completion targeted two years later. Once operational, the terminal’s annual berth capacity will rise to 1.4m teu, supported by seven ship-to-shore cranes. The project follows the recent $366m deepening of Mobile Harbour to 50 feet, now the deepest container port in the US Gulf, and builds on more than $200m in other port upgrades, including expanded yard space and new rail connections.
As part of the deal, APM Terminals and the Alabama Port Authority have agreed to extend the terminal operating concession by 20 years, now running through 2058, with options for two additional 10-year renewals.
APM Terminals Mobile managing director Brian Harold said the new berth is a “strategic next step” to stay ahead of growth. “As cargo volumes rise, we’re committed to scaling further in full partnership with the Port Authority and our customers,” he said.
The new berth will sit at the southern end of the existing terminal, next to 25 acres of land earmarked for potential future development in container handling, logistics, or storage.
