A game-changing shift occurred in the terminal management at the Port of Wilmington Delaware, when in July of 2023, Enstructure, a Wellesley, Massachusetts headquartered marine terminal management company, took over the operations at the Port of Wilmington from GT USA Wilmington, a US division of UAE-headquartered Gulftainer.
Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC), an entity under the State of Delaware responsible for the Port of Wilmington, chose Enstructrure to become the new Port of Wilmington and to collaborate with the DSPC on the potential expansion at the Edgemoor site.
Although the move was not unexpected, it was a major shift as GT had signed a 50-year agreement to manage operations at the Port of Wilmington.
Enstructure has been aggressive in acquiring marine terminals and logistics assets on the East and Gulf coasts and the Port of Wilmington with a strong core business in perishables and expansion potential was a compatible fit for the group’s growing portfolio of logistics assets.
Matthew Satnick and Philippe De Montigny, Co-CEOs of Enstructure, said of the agreement, “Enstructure is excited to partner with the DSPC and begin operations at the Port of Wilmington, where we will bring our experience in national and local markets, best-in-class service, and comprehensive terminal and logistics solutions to our customers.”
“Additionally, we will be working alongside the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council, and the Teamsters to grow operations at the Port, revitalize Port facilities and infrastructure, and maximize economic development and union job growth opportunities along the way, all while improving the experience for the long-standing customers of the Port of Wilmington. We are also excited to continue working with the DSPC to bring the potential Edgemoor development project to life.”
And the new operators got a welcomed boost in business when Dole Food announced it was adding a second weekly service call to the port on December 31, 2023, with a 1,200 FEU container vessel in rotation between Port Wilmington and South America.
“With Enstructure’s support, we’re proud to expand a second service to Port Wilmington,” said Nelson Montoya, President of Dole Fresh Fruit North America.
The addition of a second weekly service will increase the capacity of tropical fresh fruits, including Dole branded fruits, and general cargo being imported to the Mid-Atlantic region from Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala.
