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GULFTAINER’S INVESTMENT IN PORT JUST THE START
The Port of Wilmington has experienced a strong change in direction since handing over operations to GT USA Wilmington (GTW) on September 18, 2018, going from a landlord/leaseholder to a new terminal operator with full service to customers from quay to gate and beyond. During these 3 years GT USA Wilmington
has not only had to navigate through a global pandemic it has also undertaken a series of badly needed upgrades to the 98-year-old Port.
GT USA Wilmington has, to
date, invested over $88 million in
the terminal infrastructure and in upgrading cargo handling equipment. Governor John Carney recently joined Port stakeholders in celebrating the completion of the first phase of the Ports electrification project. The new container yard project featured the unveiling of 5 all Electric Rubber Tired Gantry Cranes which will emit zero carbon waste, brings a cleaner, greener, safer environment to the port. The yard project was completed at a cost of
$37 million.
Gulftainer has invested over $88 million into the Port of Wilmington since taking over operations there in 2018. | PHOTO COURTESY OF GULFTAINER
Five new rubber-tired gantries have helped increase capacity and decrease load times at the Port of Wilmington. | PHOTO COURTESY OF GULFTAINER
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The initial program of civil works has been completed and included the refurbishment and re-enforcement of berths 1-6 and the extension of rail for the ship to shore cranes from berth 3 to berth 6. These improvements greatly expanded the versatility and resilience of the berths. All these projects finished on time and within budget. Notably, the berth 6 project was finished a full
9 months ahead of schedule. A phased upgrade to the roofing of Warehouses A, B, and C and the installation of additional racking for palletized
cargo, not only increased capacity, but more importantly improved safety
and security of that cargo, along with an immediate, positive impact on operational efficiency.
We fully believe that we have in
fact improved our moves per hour
rate and our gate times. Obviously
as the upgrades have taken effect we have been able to translate that into additional and new business and as a consequence we have increased our handling of dry and liquid bulk cargo products, project cargo, including the largest wind turbine blades seen at
the port, Antares Rocket boosters for NASA, roll paper, lumber and steel barges, fresh fruit, containerized cargo,
juice concentrate, vehicles & RoRo (Roll-on Roll-off), breakbulk (steel + forest products).
Moving forward, additional yard/ warehousing improvements, as well as additional capacity for roll-on roll-off cargo, are on the horizon. A new gate design is under way and we are currently working traffic modelling to ensure
we continue to improve traffic flow to handle the expanded capabilities of the Port. In addition, plans for new dry and reefer warehouses are currently out to bidders and demand from customers led us to evaluate additional warehouse expansion.
In 2022, GT USA Wilmington is expected to begin work to build a 1.2 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) container terminal, investing approximately $420 million at the Edgemoor site in the first 10 years.
We expect an increase in the direct employment of 3,057 port workers and indirectly over 2,940 jobs in supporting industries to be the result of this new facility. Everyone at the Port is thrilled that we have made such a difference
to this jewel in Delaware’s crown and we look forward with great excitement to the coming years in this 50-year agreement.