14 American Journal of Transportation American Journal of Transportation ajot.com WHEN OTHERS SEE OBSTACLES, WHEN OTHERS SEE OSTA ES WE SEE A SOLUTION. WE SEE A SO TON WHEN OTHERS SEE OBSTACLES, WE SEE A SOLUTION. Ports don’t slow down and neither can our customers. When a reach stacker needed to move down the Delaware River from one port to another, it wasn’t just a transport job—it was a challenge that demanded the right plan, the right expertise, and the right partner. Complex logistics. Heavy equipment. Tight timelines. Solved. TAYLORNORTHEAST.COM 1-800-762-2500 businesses serving Canada’s largest market. For customers, those connections can improve inventory planning, support production continuity and offer additional routing options when supply chains face disruption elsewhere. “Shippers are increasingly evaluating gateways based on total transit time and reliability, not just ocean transit,” said Denson White, APM Terminals Intermodal Sales. “Mobile’s efficient vessel-to-rail connections and strong inland reach help cargo move quickly to destination markets giving supply chains greater predictability and resilience.” Rather than asking which gateway has tradition- ally been used, more companies are asking which gateway provides the most effective connection to the markets they ultimately serve. Investing Ahead of Demand Mobile’s connectivity story is backed by a sig- nificant period of infrastructure investment designed to support future customer growth. The modernization of the Mobile Ship Channel has deepened and widened the channel, improving navigational efficiency and strengthening the port’s ability to accommodate larger vessels. At the container terminal, further expansion is planned as APM Terminals, and the Alabama Port Authority prepare for future trade growth. A new 1,300-foot berth will increase berth capac- ity by 50%, allowing three ultra-large container ves- sels to be handled simultaneously. Once completed, the additional berth is expected to increase annual berth capacity at APM Terminals Mobile to 1.4 mil- lion TEU supported by seven ship-to-shore cranes. These investments are about more than adding capacity. They are about giving customers the confi- dence that their supply chains can continue growing without creating new bottlenecks. “We’re investing ahead of demand because our customers are making long-term supply chain deci- sions today. Our focus is on providing the capacity, connectivity, and operational reliability they need to grow with confidence,” said Brian Harold, Managing Director, APM Terminals Mobile. “By continuing to invest in Mobile Terminal, we are strengthening our ability to support our customers’ supply chains and the long-term growth of the Gulf Coast region.” Increasingly, gateway selection is becoming a supply chain decision rather than simply a port deci- sion. Businesses are evaluating how quickly products reach customers, factories and distribution centers by not simply which port receives the vessel first. Supporting a Growing Manufacturing Region That question is becoming increasingly relevant as manufacturing investment continues across the Southeast and Midwest. Growth in automotive, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, chemicals and forest products is reshaping freight flows throughout the region. As these industries expand so does the need for reliable connections between international trade lanes and inland markets. As companies diversify supply chains and manufacturing footprints they are also reassessing gateway strategies. Success is no longer defined by serving a single port, but by choosing gateways that combine capacity, connectivity and reliable access to inland markets. Mobile’s position on the Gulf Coast combined with its expanding infrastructure and inland con- nectivity allows it to serve far more than the imme- diate Southeast. “Alabama’s success in attracting advanced manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and distri- bution investment is changing the state’s freight profile and strengthening the Southeast’s role in global trade. The Port of Mobile sits at the intersec- tion of that growth, connecting international supply chains with production centers and consumer mar- kets across the region and farther inland.” Said Maggie Oliver, Chief Development Officer, Ala- bama Port Authority. As supply chains evolve, gateway selection becomes increasingly tied to business outcomes such as production continuity, transportation effi- ciency and speed to market. Delivering Supply Chain Confidence Mobile’s position is further strengthened by the experience of APM Terminals, one of the world’s leading port and terminal operators. Through decades of working alongside customers across industries and managing cargo flows around the globe, APM Terminals brings a long-term approach to infrastructure investment, operational excellence and customer partnership. For customers, terminal capacity only matters when it translates into supply chain performance. At Mobile, the development of the terminal is increasingly being linked to those customer outcomes. A more predictable cargo flow can support inventory planning. Faster inland connections can improve the movement of goods into distribution networks. For manufacturers, greater visibility and reliability can help protect production schedules and support growth. Built for What Happens Next The question is no longer simply where cargo arrives. It’s how efficiently cargo reaches the market. For customers focused on speed to market, supply chain performance and long-term scalability, Mobile offers direct access to some of North Ameri- ca’s most important freight and manufacturing mar- kets. As businesses continue to evaluate the most effective ways to serve their customers, Mobile is strengthening its position as one of the leading gate- ways on the U.S. Gulf Coast. Because the Mobile advantage doesn’t end at the port. It continues all the way to the cargo’s final destination. (REACH – continued from page 12)
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.