Largest bulk carrier calls on Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. - The Alabama State Port Authority announced March 12 that the largest bulk carrier to call on the Port of Mobile loaded more than 133,000 short tons of Alabama-based metallurgical grade coal at its McDuffie Coal Terminal. The Newcastle Max class bulk carrier, MARAN COURAGE, loaded that was bound for Asian markets. Jimmy Lyons, director/CEO for the Port Authority, noted the Newcastle Max call, along with a steady increase in Post-Panamax vessels, are due in part to past and ongoing infrastructure investments. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leading the recently permitted and fully funded harbor modernization program to deepen and widen the Port of Mobile over the next few years. “When our channel is deepened, the Newcastle Max will be able to load far more tonnage, which in turn provides our customers more capacity and more competitive transportation rates to service international market opportunities,” said Lyons. Harbor improvements will primarily serve coal and containerized shippers using the larger, Post-Panamax sized vessels. Alabama’s metallurgical coal market is in demand with nearly $1.4B in recent or planned mining investments. Alabama’s low sulfur, quality coking coal is suited for steel makers. Currently, Alabama holds about 4B tons of economically recoverable coal reserves, with 80 per cent of those reserves comprised of metallurgical grade coal, according to an Auburn University at Montgomery economic impact study. (Alabama State Port Authority 03/12/20) http://www.asdd.com/pdf/LargestBulkVesselCall_PortofMobile_03102020.pdf