APM, CMA CGM win Mobile container terminal concession

APM, CMA CGM win Mobile container terminal concession    The Alabama State Port Authority has awarded Mobile Container Terminal LLC, a joint venture between A.P. Moller-Maersk subsidiary APM Terminals North America and Terminal Link, a division of French carrier CMA CGM, a concession agreement to develop a new $300 million container terminal at Choctaw Point at the port of Mobile.
   Mobile Container Terminal is 80 percent owned by APM and 20 percent by Terminal Link.
   The authority said it will jointly invest with Mobile Container Terminal in the container terminal’s infrastructure with the joint venture company providing all buildings and equipment.
   Construction of the container terminal started in April, and when it starts operations in late 2007 will have an annual capacity of 800,000 TEUs. It will include an intermodal rail transfer facility and distribution complex.
   APM, which operates 13 terminals in North America, will operate and manage the terminal. “This project is a significant component of our North American strategy,” said Tony Scioscia, president of APM Terminals North America.
   “Mobile has good navigational access for today’s container ships, strong labor, well-established intermodal rail and highway connections and room for expansion. By adding more port capacity in North America, we expand the number of supply chain options for customers and plan for the future demands of world trade,” said Scioscia.
   “We are pleased to bring our experience and our volumes as part of this long term project. It will open new opportunities for our services,” said Farid T. Salem, CMA CGM group chief executive vice president. “CMA CGM is already a strong player on the trade from Asia to Gulf with regular weekly calls at Houston, Miami and Savannah.    Mobile project will offer us additional possibilities of services for our customers.”