The Port of Mobile, Alabama, has just completed amajor deepening project—reaching 50 feet, now thedeepest port on the U.S. Gulf Coast. This milestoneenables Mobile to handle super-post-Panamax vesselsand positions it as a potential first-call port for Asia–U.S.Gulf services.
The $366 million project, five years in the making, also widened key channel segments by 100 feet for two-way vessel traffic. The result: faster ship turnarounds, reduced congestion, and a new competitive dynamic across the Gulf region.
Previously limited to 6,000–10,000 TEU ships, Mobile can now accommodate much larger vessels—an advantage that could shift service structures traditionally favoring Houston, the Gulf’s busiest container port.
Although Houston continues to expand, most of its channel remains at 45 feet—meaning ships calling Houston first sacrifice up to 1,400 TEUs of capacity compared to calling Mobile.
“An extra five feet of draft is significant,” one carrier source explained. “It allows operators to fully utilize ship capacity and optimize rotations.”
Beyond depth, Mobile’s operational agility is another draw. Ships spend an average of 13 hours at anchorage, compared with 32 hours in Houston, according to Sea-web data. Fewer bulk and tanker movements further improve vessel turnaround.
With reduced transit delays and avoidance of Houston’s periodic fog and silting disruptions, Mobile can also cut Asia–Gulf transit times by up to five days—a critical factor amid today’s volatile shipping schedules.
Over the past year, Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC)made 83 calls at Mobile—more than any other line—averaging 6,500 TEU ships across trans-Atlantic and Asia services.
CMA CGM, through the Ocean Alliance, operates 9,000 TEU ships on its Pacific Express 3 service, while COSCO and OOCL deploy 8,000 TEU vessels on the Gulf of Mexico Express.
These moves indicate growing confidence that Mobile is ready for larger ships and expanded rotations.
Mobile’s success now hinges on its inland connectivity. Roughly20% of its container volume already moves inland, and partnerships with major railroads are set to boost that share:
Meanwhile, APM Terminals Mobile is in its fourth expansion phase, targeting 1.1 million TEUs of capacity by 2027, with future plans for a third berth already in motion.
Mobile’s deepened harbor represents more than just dredging—it symbolizes a shift in Gulf trade patterns. As carriers seek efficiency and flexibility amid tariff shifts and supply-chain realignments, ports like Mobile provide new entry points to the American heartland.
For shippers and logistics providers, this evolution reinforces the importance of multi-port strategies, rail-integrated planning, and real-time data visibility—the very principles Worldtop & Meta applies to empower clients navigating a changing global logistics landscape.
Source:https://www.joc.com/article/harbor-deepening-primes-mobile-for-bigger-ships-first-us-calls-6092987
