State and federal officials officially opened a new era for Alabama commerce on Monday. The ceremony opening the new 50-foot ship channel in the Port of Mobile happened to be held on Columbus Day, when shipping first began in the Americas.
The officials there had all played parts in the deepening of the Port of Mobile to 50 feet, enabling it for the first time to handle the largest container ships. The facility wasted no time in putting the $366 million channel to commercial use. On Friday, the first vessel with a 48.5-foot draft traversed the new channel.
Now, the Port of Mobile is the deepest channel on the Gulf of America.
One retired official there was recognized by all as the father of the port deepening – former longtime Alabama U.S. Senator Richard Shelby. The Republican from Tuscaloosa served as Alabama’s U.S. Senator from 1987 to 2023.
The ceremony was at APM Terminal’s pier. That location was about as close as the ceremony could be to the channel, as it is all underwater ending in the nearby Mobile River. The channel provides access for ships to Mobile Bay and into the Gulf of America and from there to the world.
Shelby was essentially the keynote speaker of the ceremony. He told the audience that he first envisioned the deepening of Alabama’s port when on a senatorial trip to Singapore about 20 years ago. Officials there pointed out to Shelby that their decision to deepen their port to 50 feet would “prevent their port from becoming irrelevant.”
He took that idea to Alabama’s port director, Jimmy Lyons, who pointed out the huge cost. That obstacle did not deter Shelby in the least.
Shelby had made the deepening of the port his top priority, according to his successor as U.S. Senator, Katie Britt (R-Montgomery).
Speakers credited Shelby with envisioning the project and obtaining the funds.
Alabama’s top elected officials were present:
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville
“This project to deepen the ship channel is a massive win for the state of Alabama, and we are proud to have the deepest container port in the Gulf of America. With a 50-foot channel, larger vessels carrying more cargo can call Mobile—growing the Port’s economic impact across our state and our country.”
U.S. Senator Katie Britt
“Today is a momentous occasion for Mobile, for Alabama, and for our nation. For many years and in several capacities, I have been honored to support the Port of Mobile’s success and help grow our vital state-federal partnership. I have also been a consistent advocate for balancing both the Port’s role as a vital channel for commerce in our state and the need to conserve our natural resources and protect Alabama the Beautiful through beneficial use dredging. The Port serves all 67 counties—connecting Alabama to the nation and the world—and now stands as the deepest container port in the Gulf of America. Together, we are growing good-paying jobs, opening new channels for commerce, and ensuring that ‘Made in Alabama’ goods can reach markets across the globe.”
Former U.S. Senator Richard Shelby
“Driving growth at Alabama’s Port has always been key to Alabama’s economic future. When I visited the Port of Singapore years ago, I saw how a relatively small geographic area leveraged its port system to drive incredible economic success, and I knew then that Alabama had the very same potential. The results so far are evidence of more success to come. From getting the authorization for the channel project to securing $438 million for the Port before I left office, this project has been years in the making, and I could not be prouder to see it completed for the people and the future of Alabama.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore
“This is a proud day for Alabama and a historic milestone for the Gulf Coast. The completion of the Mobile Harbor Modernization Project is the result of years of hard work, vision, and investment in our state’s future. By achieving a 50-foot channel depth, the Port of Mobile is now the deepest container terminal in the Gulf of America. That’s not just a statistic – it’s a game-changer for trade, commerce, and jobs right here in Alabama. With this expansion, larger vessels can now come directly into Mobile, boosting the Port’s competitiveness on the global stage and opening new opportunities for our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses.”
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong
“From the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley, we are one team, one economy, and one great state. This investment in the Port of Mobile strengthens Alabama’s position on the global stage— ensuring that whether it’s defense, manufacturing, or logistics, the world continues to do business with and through Alabama.”
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures
“This project is a major win for Mobile and the entire state of Alabama. With the Port of Mobile now the deepest in the Gulf, we are creating more jobs, investments, and opportunities for communities across the Gulf Coast. I am proud to support infrastructure that delivers for people and moves Alabama forward.”
Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson
“This is a transformational milestone for the City of Mobile and the entire state of Alabama. The Port is essential to our local economy — it’s the foundation of what makes Mobile an unrivaled logistics hub, and it supports industries far beyond the waterfront. I want to commend the leadership of the Alabama Port Authority, Gov. Kay Ivey, former Senator Richard Shelby, and everyone else who bought into the vision of what the Port of Mobile could become. We’re already seeing the results today, and the best is still ahead of us.”
The theme of the ceremony was the continued growth of the port for the benefit of all of Alabama.
Could we soon see a renaming of “Port of Mobile” to “Port of Alabama?”
Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at [email protected].
