APM Terminals increases Port Elizabeth investment plans to USD $200 million in preparation for ultra large container ships
APM Terminals, in close dialogue with the bi-state shipping community, including the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, shipping companies, importers and exporters, intermodal rail providers, trucking companies and the International Longshoreman’s Association, has significantly increased its previously announced USD $70 million investment plans for the APM Terminals Port Elizabeth facility, and now plans an investment total of USD $200 million.
This figure includes ordering four next-generation Ship-To-Shore (STS) cranes to handle ultra-large container ships (ULCS) at North America’s second-busiest port complex. These vessels are expected to start calling the port right after the heightening of the Bayonne Bridge is completed later this year. The heightening of the Bayonne Bridge, combined with the widened Panama Canal allows these ULCS liner services to call and be operated efficiently at the advanced APM Terminals facility.
Further investments include an expanded gate complex designed to improve the trucker experience through a safer and faster cargo flow, upgrades to container handling equipment to make them safer, more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly - and other operational improvements pursued in anticipation of future, regular ULCS vessel calls. APM Terminals is being very selective and disciplined about the projects for which to invest; these projects compliment already committed investments being made at the berth to ensure the most value is harnessed from this strategic location over the long term.
The Bayonne Bridge, linking New Jersey with Staten Island, and originally completed in 1932, will be raised to a height of 215 feet (65.5 meters) from its original 151 foot (46 meter) vessel passage clearance when the project is completed later this year, allowing the latest generation of container vessels to enter Newark Bay without air draft issues. APM Terminals’ Port Elizabeth facility is one of the largest container terminals in the port complex, handling over 2,100 trucks a day, 4000 terminal gate transactions and more than 500 vessel calls per year. The current capacity of 1.5 million TEU will be expanded to 2.3 million TEU, with berth expansion to accommodate three simultaneous ULCS vessel calls. The expansion and upgrades will be performed with no disruptions in service at the terminal through a dedicated onsite APM Terminals project team.
The Port of New York and New Jersey is the largest port complex on the US East Coast, with 6.25 million TEUs handled in 2016.
