Port of Mobile Sees General Cargo Rise

The Alabama State Port Authority said it's a good year for general cargo.

The port authority, which manages the Port of Mobile, expects to top 6 million short tons of general cargo in its fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

“Our wood pulp is expected to finish above fiscal year 2020 volumes, while other forest products, project cargo and iron and steel articles remain steady,” said Judith Adams, vice president of marketing.

The Port of Mobile is among the largest U.S. seaports, handling more than 58 million tons of cargo annually, as its full-services terminals support ocean carriers transiting major trade lanes. The port’s general cargo terminals connect to eight railroads (five Class I and three short lines) and two interstate systems.

Adams also noted some other recent port calls for general cargo:

• Star Juvantas – The direct discharge of a 304 net ton gas turbine from the G2 Ocean vessel to the awaiting Schnabel railcar for transport to its final destination, a power generation project in Mississippi. The agent was Norton Lilly and the stevedore was CSA at Pier C North.

• BBC St. Petersburg – This project cargo shipment discharged about 807 tonnes of heavy-lift/project cargo from the BBC Chartering vessel at the Port Authority’s Pier C North Terminal. Premier Stevedoring was the stevedore.

• Project Cargo Helvetia – This is a discharge from ship to rail at Pier C North at the port authority’s general cargo terminals. The generator stator was inbound from Hitachi, Japan. The cargo supports a power generation project in Alabama. BNSF Logistics provided the rail service and Premier Bulk Stevedoring was the stevedore.

• BBC Everest – Heavy-lift pieces were discharged direct to barge from the BBC Chartering vessel. These GE HRSG modules were bound for a natural gas plant in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania. The agent was Nord - Sud Shipping Inc., and the stevedore was Premier Bulk Stevedoring. The barge was from Ceres Barge Line, and Edwards Moving and Rigging handled the discharge in Carmichaels.

IMAGES: (From top) Wood pulp handled in a Port of Mobile warehouse; C2 Ocean's Star Juvantas is unloaded at Pier C North; project cargo discharged from the BBC St. Petersburg; a load of project cargo discharge from ship to rail.