U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) visited Alabama’s Port of Mobile today, touring the new super post-Panamax cranes. Alabama State Port Authority Director Jimmy Lyons led the tour and brought Senator Shelby up to speed on the ways port’s growth is benefitting the state of Alabama and the Gulf Coast region.

The state’s senior U.S. Senator was duly impressed:

The Port of Mobile is one of the fastest growing harbors in the nation. I am encouraged by the current growth and the future economic development opportunities directly tied to the port. Mobile’s two new cranes, which are the biggest in the world, will allow the port to increase productivity, create jobs, and continue to expand.

As the Senator’s press release noted, the Port of Mobile grew by over 19 percent in container capacity in 2016.  With the two new super post-Panamax cranes in place, the Alabama State Port Authority anticipates continued development in the years ahead.