Expansions Lead More than $800 Million U.S. Port Projects Set for Kickoff in 3Q

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Projects at U.S. cargo ports are geared toward a variety of end uses, including the expansion of their ship channels and berths--the latter of which is a designated area for ships to dock for loading and unloading. Industrial Info is tracking $834 million worth of projects at U.S. cargo ports that are expected to begin construction from July through September, with expansion projects accounting for about 45% of the spend and more than half of the number of projects.

The project activity includes one component of a roughly $1 billion multi-phase expansion ("Project 11") of the Houston Ship Channel at the Port of Houston, which is the busiest waterway in the nation, according to the port authority, which cites the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

Expansion 3 involves widening the existing channel at the Barbours Cut Terminal from 300 feet to approximately 455 feet and modifying the channel entrance, among other work. This phase is expected to wrap up around the end of 2025. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Industrial Manufacturing Project Database can click here to read the project report.

For more information on Project 11 and other activity at Port Houston, see November 14, 2023, article - Port Houston Receives Project Funding.

Berth expansions are another focus at U.S. cargo ports, including one at Florida's largest port, Port of Tampa Bay. One such project expected to kick off in August is a $55 million expansion at the port that entails constructing a new, approximately 1,100-foot berth, new cargo facilities and a 30-acre container yard, to expand the port's container capacity by 60% and handle additional vessels. The new facilities would include direct rail and trucking connections. Subscribers can click here to read more information on the project, which is expected to wrap up next year.

Industrial Info also is tracking a $20 million expansion at the Colonel's Island Terminal at the Port of Brunswick in Georgia, operated by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA). The expansion involves the addition of a fourth berth for roll on-roll off (Ro/Ro) ships, to increase the terminal's berthing space to 4,630 feet. Along with adding a new berth at the port, which primarily handles automobiles and machinery, the project entails strengthening an adjacent berth and providing connections between the existing berths and the new berth, as well as from the new berth to the shore. Ro/Ro ships are vessels specifically designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as vehicles, motorcycles, semi-trailer trucks and railroad cars. Learn more from the project report.

Earlier in June, the GPA reported the Port of Brunswick handled an all-time record for roll on-roll off cargo in May, up 26% year over year. "Brunswick's proximity to domestic manufacturers and to vibrant sales markets make it a critical partner for the auto industry in driving new business," said Griff Lynch, the chief executive officer of the Georgia Ports Authority, in a related press release. "The recent addition of 120 acres of processing space, along with hundreds more acres available for development, make Colonel's Island Terminal uniquely able to expand along with the needs of car manufacturers."

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Database can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.

Click here for a full list of reports for U.S. cargo port projects expected to kick off in the third quarter.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).