Port of Beaumont Boosts Handling Capacity

The Port of Beaumont has seen the completion of its new Main Street Terminal 1, a project that has boosted general cargo handling capacity at the southeast Texas facility by more than 15 percent.

U.S.-based McCarthy Building Companies had been awarded a contract to carry out the work, which included the demolition of a failed dock structure and the installation of a 1,200-foot-long, 130-foot-wide general cargo dock.

“McCarthy began work on the Main Street Terminal in February of 2022 and achieved substantial completion in two years – several months ahead of schedule,” the contractor said in a statement.

One of the biggest challenges for the constructor was replacing the original 100-year-old dock that had collapsed in 2012. Divers and an unmanned survey vessel were deployed to survey the wreckage, while specialized demolition tools – including a 40-foot pile with a steel tip – were used to break up debris that had fallen into the water and ensure a clear area for building the new facility.

The project focused on sustainability and resilience by installing concrete piles with a corrosion resistant foundation and a concrete topping slab made from synthetic concrete reinforcing fibers rather than a traditional welded steel wire mesh.

The project also called for a new fender system that included an energy-absorbing component to reduce loads on the dock.

“This project brought multiple unique challenges for our team, including navigating the demolition with limited visibility and addressing unexpected obstructions, but we were able to execute our work efficiently with zero recordable safety incidents and five months ahead of schedule,” said Robert Wood, project director at McCarthy.

The Port of Beaumont is an eight-terminal facility housing 11 berths, more than 100 acres of storage, and direct service to three Class I rail carriers. The facility specializes in handling breakbulk, project cargo, dry bulk, liquid bulk and RoRo.

The Main Street Terminal 1 revamp is the largest of 20 projects included in the port’s 2022 capital improvement program, an investment drive that is also calling for the construction of three more docks and a rail interchange track.


The Port of Beaumont will be exhibiting at Breakbulk Americas 2024 on 15-17 October in Houston. You can meet the team in the Main Hall, Stand P15.