The Port of Mobile’s Mobile Ship Channel in Alabama has hit a milestone by officially reaching its authorized 50-foot depth.
On Oct. 2, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Mobile Bar Pilots reviewed the latest soundings for the Mobile Ship Channel and determined the channel can handle vessel transits with a draft of up to 50 feet.
Deepening the channel is part of the $366 million Mobile Harbor Modernization Project. The port can now handle super-post-Panamax vessels and is the deepest container port in the Gulf of America.
“This milestone shows the immediate value of the project,” said Alabama Port Authority Interim Director and CEO Doug Otto. “As soon as the Corps confirmed the channel was ready, our customers took advantage of the additional depth. This is exactly why this project matters—it means lower shipping costs, more efficient trade, and an even stronger economic engine for Alabama.”
The modernization project is ongoing. Workers are in the process of widening the turning basin near the Port’s container terminal. Dredged material is being used for shoreline restoration on Dauphin Island.
The Alabama Port Authority plans to host a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony in the future to commemorate the completion of the project. The port authority oversees the deep-water public port facilities at the Port of Mobile.