Alabama Port Authority reports April volume increases at Mobile port

The Port of Mobile logged a 39.7% increase in container volumes last month compared with April 2021 levels, the Alabama Port Authority announced last week.

The port also posted last month a 112.6% increase in volume moving through the container intermodal transfer facility, as well as a 57.9% increase in refrigerated cargo volume, port authority officials said in a press release.

As container volumes continue to climb at the port, the authority is moving ahead on infrastructure investments to add capacity and efficiencies for shippers using the gateway. In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation granted the port authority and the Mobile Airport Authority a combined $100 million to improve the Port of Mobile’s multimodal transportation hub.

Specifically, the port authority’s $38 million portion of the award will help fund two projects designed to address increasing capacity for intermodal rail and multimodal freight movements at the port. Planned investments include a new inter-terminal bridge connecting the marine terminal with the intermodal rail facility and the adjacent logistics park. Funds will also provide for site development work at the logistics park, port officials said.

In addition, the port authority received $67.3 million for intermodal and freight-rail infrastructure improvements under the FY2022 Omnibus Appropriations Act. This funding will help fund construction of an inland intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF) in Montgomery. To be located along the Interstate 65 corridor, the $58 million ICTF will be built under a partnership between the port authority and CSX. Construction is expected to be completed in the next two to three years.

Meanwhile, under a $231.6 million program to increase freight and intermodal rail capacity and develop mega sites to foster economic development in Alabama, the Port of Mobile is part of a project to improve rail connections with Norfolk Southern Railway’s McCalla intermodal facility.