The Alabama Port Authority announced last Friday that the Mobile Ship Channel has officially reached its authorized 50-foot depth, marking a transformational milestone for the Port of Mobile and Alabama’s economy.
On October 2, the Port, in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Mobile Bar Pilots, reviewed the latest soundings for the Mobile Ship Channel. All parties concurred that the channel is suitable for vessel transits with a draft of up to 50 feet.
Within hours of the certification, the SAKIZAWA POWER, already docked at the Port’s McDuffie Coal Terminal, became the first vessel to utilize the deeper channel, loading additional tonnage and sailing with a 48.4-foot draft—the maximum load for that particular vessel. As of 12:15 p.m. last Thursday, the vessel officially cleared the newly deepened ship channel.
“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 $366 million Mobile Harbor Modernization Project, a state–federal partnership, positions the Port of Mobile as the deepest container port in the Gulf of America, capable of handling super-post-Panamax vessels. APM Terminals Mobile expects ocean lines to begin upsizing ships in the near future, as the deeper channel will enhance efficiencies for customers.
“From the federal authorization process to passing the Rebuild Alabama Act, this would not have been possible without the leadership of former Senator Richard Shelby and Governor Kay Ivey,” said Alabama Port Authority Board Chairman Zeke Smith. “Together, their actions forged the state–federal partnership that brought this transformative project to completion.”
The deepening and widening of the ship channel advanced through a combination of federal and state actions. Beginning in 2014, Shelby secured federal funding for the USACE to launch the General Reevaluation Report. That study led to the project’s congressional authorization in the 2018 Water Resources Development Act, also championed by Shelby. In 2019, Governor Ivey led the effort to successfully pass the Rebuild Alabama Act, signing it into law and creating the funding mechanism for Alabama’s 25 percent cost-share.
Governor Kay Ivey shared, “From day one, I have said that the Port of Mobile is Alabama’s gateway to the world. By passing the Rebuild Alabama Act, we ensured that our state could provide the federal match and move this critical project forward. Today, we see the payoff of that vision. A 50-foot channel is not just a milestone for the Port—it is a generational investment in Alabama jobs, growth, and prosperity.”
“This is a proud day for Alabama and for me personally,” said Senator Shelby. “Securing full federal funding for the deepening and widening of the Mobile Ship Channel was one of my top priorities in Congress because I knew what it would mean for our state’s economy. Today’s achievement cements the Port of Mobile’s place as a premier gateway for global trade and ensures Alabama businesses have the tools they need to thrive in the decades to come.”
While the channel is fully open to 50 feet, work continues to widen the turning basin near the Port’s container terminal. This phase of the project is taking longer to complete because dredged material is being beneficially used for shoreline restoration on Dauphin Island, underscoring both the economic and environmental benefits of the project.
The Alabama Port Authority will host a ceremonial ribbon-cutting event in the coming weeks to commemorate the completion of the Mobile Harbor Modernization Project.
