The Alabama Port Authority has finished its 400-foot container dock extension at the Port of Mobile.

Completion of this project comes as funding secured by Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) is now in place to dredge and widen Mobile Harbor by 2024.

Within days wrapping up the project, the terminal simultaneously handled two container ships at the newly expanded berth, according to a release from the authority.

With a near constant flow of container ships coming into the port, the extension was part of a $50 million Phase 3 expansion aimed at increasing terminal capacity and productivity.

This most recent modernization project is part of an overall $450 million investment in marine and rail container intermodal terminals.

“We continue to seek out and implement innovation and world class infrastructure to meet the needs of our carriers and shippers,” said Jimmy Lyons, director and chief executive officer for the Alabama State Port Authority. “We’re very pleased with both carrier and shipper confidence in our program as they continue to introduce larger ships, add capacity and increase volumes through the Port.”

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The work serves as welcome improvements for terminal customers.

“We are very excited to complete this project which allows us to offer a significant increase in berthing windows to our customers,” Brian Harold, Managing Director of APM Terminals Mobile said. “This expansion also enables us to offer improved capabilities to quickly service vessels that may arrive ahead-of, or behind schedule.”

Construction on the Shelby-funded channel and harbor improvements is expected to begin later this year. Shelby foresees the massive project leaving a lasting impact on Alabama’s economic future.

“The completion of this transformative project is expected to stem immeasurable economic growth and will position Alabama and the Gulf Coast region for success for generations to come,” he remarked at the time of the allocation. “I am grateful to the Army Corps of Engineers for allocating the full federal share of the project cost and to the state of Alabama for providing the required matching funds. I look forward to its completion and the resulting impact.”

RELATED: Army Corps of Engineers allocates final slice of funding for historic Port of Mobile dredging

Shelby ensured $274,300,000 would be allocated for the work on Alabama’s seaport.

The Alabama State Port Authority owns and operates the state of Alabama’s deep-water port facilities at the Port of Mobile, and its public facilities handle more than 26 million tons of cargo annually.

Tim Howe is an owner of Yellowhammer Multimedia