Construction Begins on Delaware Container Terminal in the U.S. with Total Investment of US$669 Million

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 14, Enstructure and the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Delaware Container Terminal (DCT) in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., marking the project's official transition from the planning stage to the construction stage. The terminal is located on the former industrial site at Edgemoor, approximately 3 miles northeast of the Port of Wilmington, with a total investment of US$669 million and planned to begin operations in early 2029.

The project is being developed under a public-private partnership model, with DSPC holding the project land and Enstructure responsible for terminal development and, upon completion, for operations under a long-term concession agreement. Of the US$669 million total investment, Enstructure is contributing US$225 million, the State of Delaware is investing US$325 million, and an additional US$119 million comes from federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, with part of the funding allocated to zero-emission port equipment and supporting infrastructure.

Upon full completion, the terminal will have approximately 2,700 feet of berth length, a design water depth of 45 feet, the ability to accommodate container ships of up to approximately 16,000 TEU, and an annual container handling capacity of up to 1.2 million TEU. Planned cargo handling equipment includes 7 electric ship-to-shore cranes and 24 electric rubber-tired gantry cranes, along with supporting charging infrastructure. The project covers approximately 137 acres.

The DCT will also be connected to a Class I railway and linked to the hinterland of the northeastern United States via highways including I-495, I-95, and I-295. Once completed, the project will add container, retail goods, and perishable cargo handling capacity, and expand the overall container throughput capacity of the Delaware River port cluster.

Key pre-construction procedures for the project were completed this year. In April, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued the relevant permit to DSPC, allowing the berth construction and dredging works to proceed; in May, DSPC and Enstructure signed an amended joint development agreement, further clarifying the Phase I project costs and the responsibilities of both parties. The September groundbreaking marks the substantive construction milestone following the completion of the aforementioned permits and development agreement.

The project will also employ electric cargo handling equipment and establish an emissions inventory and operational data monitoring system. Part of the federal funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports Grant Program will be used for zero-emission equipment procurement, environmental monitoring, employee training, and related supporting facilities.