Port Freeport Commissioners have approved a $129.6 million contract with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. for the expansion of Velasco Container Terminal in Texas.
The Velasco Terminal expansion, which includes Berth 8, features over 925 feet of berth extension and will accommodate post-Panamax gantry cranes.
The berth will be dredged to 51 feet, matching the depth of the Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project, which will be sufficient to handle the larger container vessels transiting the expanded Panama Canal.
The first phase of the Velasco Container Terminal was completed and put into operation in 2014.
In September 2018, Port Freeport obtained the permit from the Army Corps which allows construction to commence on the next segment of berth and associated backlands.
“ Port Freeport has seen a significant increase in vessel traffic and commercial activity over the past several years ,” said Phyllis Saathoff, Port Executive Director/CEO . “ Adding berth capacity to the port’s infrastructure is critical to supporting the business needs of the Port’s current and future customers .”
Construction is scheduled to begin by December 2019, with the new infrastructure being fully operational by August 2022.