Delaware Enlarging Port With New $635 Million Terminal
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Delaware announced it will join Enstructure, the operator of the Port of Wilmington, to build a new port terminal in Edgemoor in a $635 million project.
“This investment to expand the port will position Delaware to compete for container cargo and larger ships. It will bring new, good-paying union jobs to Wilmington,” Gov. John Carney said.
The plan is to create a single Port Delaware that will consist of two terminals less than 2 miles apart: Port Delaware South (the current Port Wilmington) with a 400,000 20-foot-equivalent unit (TEU) capacity and Port Delaware North (the new Edgemoor site), which will be able to handle 1.6 million TEUs.
Once construction of the Edgemoor port is completed in about three years, Delaware will see its port container cargo capacity quadrupled and be able to handle larger new vessels through improvements such as deeper drafts to accommodate bigger ships along with efficient modern equipment that meets industry standards.
Carney
Benefits to Delaware include having a full-service marine port that can handle diverse cargo, which will result in expanded state economic opportunities. In addition, state officials hope to attract new types of imports/exports and new businesses from logistics centers and service providers.
Construction on the Port Delaware Container Terminal will be done in three phases. The first phase will span more than two years and focus on waterside construction such as building a seawall and high deck as well as dredging. The terminal will be built at a higher elevation to be resilient to potential impacts from climate change. Enstructure plans to handle construction during the second and final phases. The Edgemoor industrial site was bought in 2017 by taxpayer-owned Diamond State Port Corp., which secured permits to build the new terminal.
Edgemoor Development Plan Enstructure
Delaware will fund 31% ($195 million) of costs, and Enstructure will pay $170 million toward the first phase and $165 million to complete Phases 2 and 3. Federal and state funding is expected to pick up the remaining $105 million.
Enstructure co-CEOs Matthew Satnick and Philippe De Montigny issued a statement about the project.
“We are excited to partner with the state of Delaware, the Diamond State Port Corp., the Delaware Building Trades [Delaware Building and Construction Trades Council] and the International Longshoremen’s Association to significantly expand Delaware’s port infrastructure,” the statement said. “The Port Delaware Container Terminal will broaden Enstructure’s terminal network and logistics services while enhancing our ability to serve our customers.”
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According to the governor’s office, the expanded port (with the newly completed terminal) will provide 11,480 jobs and generate $76.2 million in state tax revenues.
“We need to build this new port to keep our maritime economy competitive in the years ahead. The benefits of this new port will be felt for generations by thousands of Delaware families who will be able to buy a house, send kids to college and improve their quality of life,” noted House Speaker Valerie Longhurst. “Investing in this new port is investing in Delaware’s future. One of the most important jobs we have as legislators is growing Delaware’s economy and keeping it strong.”
State Sen. Gerald Hocker (R) said investing in modern public infrastructure is important to the state’s future.
“The existing port has created jobs and small business opportunities for over 100 years,” he said. “This new port will be a critical piece of strengthening Delaware’s economy for the next hundred years.”
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