Massport to Construct a Berth in Boston
The Port of Boston has received a USD 107.5 million commitment which will support the construction of a new berth and the procurement of three new cranes to handle larger ships at the port’s Conley Terminal, according to the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport).
The remaining costs of the project would be funded by Massport. The authority’s terminals in the Port of Boston handle more than one million tons of cargo each year, MANA correspondent reported.
Earlier this month, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that Massachusetts would receive a USD 42 million FASTLANE grant for renovations and improvements to Conley Terminal’s existing facility.
“With new investments allowing the Port of Boston to handle more cargo on larger ships, Boston will continue to grow as a strategic port for international shipping on the Eastern Seaboard and remain an important part of the maritime economy,” said Congressman Stephen F. Lynch.
Conley Terminal has achieved back-to-back record breaking years for volume in Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016, including double digit growth on both the import and export side this year, according to Massport. Following the opening of the expanded Panama Canal, the terminal is now servicing vessels 40-60 percent larger on the Asia to East Coast route.
Massport and partner agencies are involved in another project aimed at deepening the Boston Harbor to accommodate larger vessels being deployed by ocean carriers. The project includes dredging operations which are set to begin this fall.