Turning basin to be widened in Mobile

[bmc alabama]

Interesting.  The article mainly talks about the benefits for cargo traffic, but a deeper channel and wider turn basin would have positive effects for a cruise ship as well...

 

https://www.al.com/news/2019/03/alabama-widens-mobile-shipping-channel-to-boost-entire-state-economy.html

[Thorncroft]

There are two turning basins in the Mobile River. The north basin by the bridge and north of the terminal  is 1000' wide.  The south basin below the cruise terminal is 1500' wide. Either one can accomodate a Fantasy class vessel. Larger vessels need to use the southern basin and back up or down the river based on whether they decide to make the turn before or after docking at the cruise terminal. 1500' is plenty of room to turn all but the very largest cruise ships.  Conquest and Triumph have both used the lower basin when they have been in Mobile. 

 

The deeper and wider shipping channel and wider turning basin are a pre-emptive upgrade to stay competitive with other ports with the widening of the Panama Canal. Mobile is ranked as the 9th largest port in the nation by tonnage and 25th in North America in terms of container traffic, so they are keen to keep the cargo flowing. Container ships keep getting larger and this will enable the port to handle the largest of them. 

[bmc alabama]

On 4/27/2019 at 4:38 PM, Thorncroft said:

There are two turning basins in the Mobile River. The north basin by the bridge and north of the terminal  is 1000' wide.  The south basin below the cruise terminal is 1500' wide. Either one can accomodate a Fantasy class vessel. Larger vessels need to use the southern basin and back up or down the river based on whether they decide to make the turn before or after docking at the cruise terminal. 1500' is plenty of room to turn all but the very largest cruise ships.  Conquest and Triumph have both used the lower basin when they have been in Mobile. 

 

The deeper and wider shipping channel and wider turning basin are a pre-emptive upgrade to stay competitive with other ports with the widening of the Panama Canal. Mobile is ranked as the 9th largest port in the nation by tonnage and 25th in North America in terms of container traffic, so they are keen to keep the cargo flowing. Container ships keep getting larger and this will enable the port to handle the largest of them. 

Interesting.  I'm sure that the ships will not mind not having to back down the river.  It seems as though this is mostly for cargo ships, but I'm sure Carnival is not complaining...

 

Also interesting is that it seems as though Mobile is working towards moving all air traffic from MOB over to Brookley, which would be infinitely better for cruise passengers if they were to fly in, though, I suspect that the vast majority of the Fantasy's traffic is drive-in...

[Thorncroft]

54 minutes ago, bmc alabama said:

 

 

Also interesting is that it seems as though Mobile is working towards moving all air traffic from MOB over to Brookley, which would be infinitely better for cruise passengers if they were to fly in, though, I suspect that the vast majority of the Fantasy's traffic is drive-in...

 

Right now, Airbus has 5 or 6 ships a month bringing in airliner parts to be assembled at their A320 plant and that will grow to 8 a month when the plant ramps up to rate 8.  When the A220 plant reaches full rate production, that's another 4 ships a month for those jets. Plus, Walmart has a massive 2.5 million sq ft import center where stuff comes in from China and then gets distributed to their regional distribution warehouses. The port is scrambling to keep up. 

 

Mobile just opened a temporary terminal at BFM this week for Frontier and Via airlines. They're hoping to attract more low cost airlines to this airport. The plan is to build a brand new terminal at BFM within the next 3-5 years and move the remaining airlines at MOB over to BFM. Then, all of the general aviation stuff that's at Brookley Aeroplex will move over to the old airport at MOB. They're also planning on getting true international designation at BFM to support Airbus, Bombardier, MAE  and all of the international companies that have set up in support of Airbus, at Brookley.  Pensacola and Gulfport airports are international in name only and are not set up to accept international flights, but BFM will be. Mobile Aerospace Engineering is a subsidiary of Singapore Aerospace and along with Airbus, Bombardier and almost all of Airbus' support companies being international corporations, an international designation is really a must for that airport, going forward.  The plus side being that this airport is only about 4 miles from the cruise terminal and easy on/off from I-10 at the airport and the port, both. 

 

A word of caution for those flying in for cruises, now:  make sure you know which airlines fly out of which airport and be sure that you're at the right airport.  LOL.