Alabama State Port Authority

What Alabama State Port Authority does

The Alabama Port Authority is a state government entity established by the Alabama Legislature in 1928 that operates the Port of Mobile — Alabama's only deepwater seaport — together with a network of eight inland river ports, two rail intermodal facilities, 75 miles of terminal railway, and approximately 4.8 million square feet of warehouse and open storage. The authority's core asset is the 50-foot Mobile Harbor shipping channel, completed in October 2025, which makes the Port of Mobile the deepest container port in the Gulf of America and supports super-post-Panamax vessels up to 15,000 TEUs. Its terminal portfolio is diversified across containers (operated by APM Terminals Mobile under a concession extended through 2058), steel and metals (second-largest U.S. steel port, handling 5M+ tons annually at Pinto Island), bulk coal (30M-ton annual capacity at McDuffie), finished vehicles (150,000-vehicle annual RO/RO capacity), forest products, project cargo, and general cargo.

The authority monetizes this infrastructure through a portfolio of transaction-fee revenue streams: cargo handling and wharfage fees under published tariff schedules (Tariff 1-E for general cargo/intermodal, Tariff 2 for bulk, Tariff 8017 for the TASD terminal railway), real estate and warehousing leases, a long-term managed-services concession with APM Terminals, and federal/state infrastructure cost-share funding. The newly launched Mobile America Express (MAX) platform packages ocean, rail, barge, road, and air connectivity as a unified logistics product, anchored by Class I rail access via five carriers (BNSF, CN, CPKC, CSX, Norfolk Southern) and four short-line railroads. Customer base spans automotive OEMs, aerospace manufacturers, e-commerce and retail shippers, steel mills, coal miners, and forestry-products exporters across all 67 Alabama counties and broader U.S. heartland markets.

The authority reports to the State of Alabama under a Board chaired by Zeke Smith, with Doug Otto as Director & CEO. It carries an S&P Global Ratings A / Fitch positive-outlook credit profile and is executing a $735M+ five-year capital improvement program that includes harbor deepening, a $131M Phase V container berth, and a $100M Pier B South redevelopment. It cites $415.8 billion in cumulative statewide economic impact since 2019 and 1-in-7 statewide job support as the social/economic footprint of its operations.

Name

Alabama State Port Authority

Legal name

Alabama Port Authority

Website

https://alports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

The Alabama Port Authority operates the Port of Mobile — Alabama's only deepwater seaport and the deepest container port in the Gulf of America — serving enterprise manufacturers, ocean carriers, and logistics companies with multimodal cargo handling across containers, steel, coal, automotive, and bulk, extended via inland river ports and Class I rail across all 67 Alabama counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Port and Maritime Logistics Services

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Port and Harbor Operations (48831), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Inland Water Transportation (48321), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE), Bulk Transloading & Intermodal Bulk Transfer Facilities (Rail/Truck/Conveyor/Barge) (TLAHABAN), Inland / River Container Terminals (Barge-Served) (TLAHAAAD), Intermodal Drayage Coordination & Port/Rail Ramp Transfers (TLACAEAH)

Keywords

• Deepwater port operations
• Multimodal freight logistics
• Container terminal services
• Bulk cargo handling
• Intermodal rail transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Mobile

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Cargo Handling and Wharfage Fees: Fees charged for loading, unloading, and wharfage services at port terminals. Port tariffs cover General Cargo/Intermodal Tariff 1-E and Bulk Division Tariff 2.
2. Terminal Railway Services: TASD Rail Terminal Tariff 8017 covering switching railroad operations, rail car storage, and intermodal transfers across all port facilities.
3. Port Real Estate and Warehousing: Leasing of port-owned properties, covered warehouse space (2.4 million sq ft), open storage areas, and tenant facilities.
4. Container Terminal Concession (APM Terminals): Revenue from the long-term concession agreement with APM Terminals Mobile, extended through 2058 with increased lease payments.
5. Infrastructure Investment Cost-Share: Federal and state cost-share funding for major infrastructure projects including the $366 million harbor deepening and $100 million Pier B modernization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Alabama State Port Authority operates the Port of Mobile, Alabama's only deepwater seaport and the deepest container port in the Gulf of America with a 50-foot shipping channel. It provides cargo handling, terminal operations, wharfage, warehousing, and intermodal logistics services across container, steel, coal, forest products, automotive, and project cargo segments. The Authority also operates the TASD Terminal Railway (75 miles of track connecting to five Class I railroads), a network of inland river and rail ports, and the MAX (Mobile America Express) coordinated logistics platform integrating ocean, rail, barge, road, and air connectivity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Container Terminal Services Containerized cargo handling, storage, and intermodal transfers at APM Terminals Mobile, capable of handling super-post-Panamax vessels up to 15,000 TEUs with 50-foot draft. Annual handling exceeds 500,000 TEUs with expandability to 2.5 million TEUs. Serves ocean carriers, importers, and exporters.
• McDuffie Coal Terminal Services One of the largest coal terminals in the world with 30 million tons annual throughput capacity, 50-foot draft, six stacker/reclaimers, two double-wing stackers, two ship loaders, and three vessel discharge cranes. Serves coal exporters and energy companies requiring high-volume bulk terminal services.
• Pinto Island Steel Terminal Services Steel and metals handling services with over 5 million tons of steel handled annually, 2.4 million sq ft of warehouse space, LME-certified warehouses, heavy-lift cranes, and an advanced Yard Management System for real-time inventory tracking. Second-largest steel port in the U.S. Serves steel manufacturers and importers.
• AutoMobile International Terminal 57-acre RO/RO facility with 150,000 vehicle annual capacity, 7,000 on-site storage spaces, 40,000-square-foot processing center, and exclusive berth access for finished vehicle imports and exports. Serves automotive OEMs, importers, and distributors.
• General Cargo Terminal Services General cargo handling across 218 acres including metals, forest products, project cargo, bulk, and finished auto facilities. Over 55 acres of laydown space and handling of oversized/heavy-lift cargo. Serves manufacturers, exporters, and project cargo shippers.
• TASD Terminal Railway Services 75 miles of track connecting all port terminals to five Class I railroads and four short-line railroads, enabling on-dock rail, switching railroad operations, rail car storage, and rapid intermodal transfers under Tariff 8017.
• Inland River and Rail Port Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 50-foot channel depth reduces per-unit shipping costs and enables vessels to carry more cargo
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ray-Mont LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Ray-Mont Logistics is building a new export-focused transloading facility at the Port of Mobile on property owned by Alabama Export Railroad. The facility will handle plastic resin packaging, forest products, and other goods, adding approximately 60,000 TEUs of annual export volume. This is Ray-Mont's third U.S. facility and first on the Gulf Coast.
• Alabama Export Railroad (ALE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Alabama Export Railroad owns the property where Ray-Mont's new transloading facility is being built and provides rail access at the Port of Mobile, connecting to the broader intermodal network.
• CN (Canadian National Railway)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 June 2026CN provides Class I rail connectivity through the Port of Mobile's intermodal network, supporting inland distribution of containerized cargo to and from the U.S. heartland and Canada.
• Mobile Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026The Mobile Chamber of Commerce, along with the City of Mobile and Mobile County Commission, supported the Ray-Mont Logistics investment decision.
• Norfolk Southern RailroadcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 January 2026Norfolk Southern invested over $200 million in parallel infrastructure to support Warrior Met Coal's Blue Creek Mine logistics operations, demonstrating railroad partnership in port-connected industrial development.
• Parker Towing CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 January 2026Parker Towing Company invested over $20 million in parallel infrastructure to support Warrior Met Coal's Blue Creek Mine barge logistics, positioning the development as a multi-generational economic asset.
• APM Terminals MobilecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2025APM Terminals operates the container terminal at the Port of Mobile under a long-term concession agreement extended through 2058 (with two 10-year extension options). The partnership includes a $131 million Phase V berth expansion (new 1,300-foot berth), a 33-acre container yard expansion, rail capacity upgrades, and a rail flyover bridge. APM Terminals is an independent division of A.P. Moller – Maersk.
• Tennessee-Tombigbee WaterwaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaterway development partner connecting the Port of Mobile's inland river ports to the broader 15,000-mile inland waterway system spanning multiple states.
• Coosa-Alabama River Improvement Association (CARIA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaterway development partner supporting inland waterway cargo movement along Alabama's river systems.
• Warrior Tombigbee Waterway AssociationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaterway development partner supporting cargo movement along the Warrior-Tombigbee waterway system connecting to the Port of Mobile.
• TriRivers Waterway Development AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWaterway development partner supporting Alabama's inland river cargo network.
• Norfolk SoutherncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorfolk Southern is one of five Class I railroads providing direct rail connectivity through the Port's TASD Terminal Railway, enabling efficient inland distribution.
• CPKCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCPKC is one of five Class I railroads providing direct rail connectivity through the Port's TASD Terminal Railway.
• CSXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSX is one of five Class I railroads providing direct rail connectivity and serves the Montgomery ICTF. CSX is a key partner in the Port's inland intermodal expansion.
• Canadian National (CN)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanadian National is one of five Class I railroads providing direct rail connectivity through the Port's TASD Terminal Railway.
• BNSF RailwaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBNSF is one of five Class I railroads providing direct rail connectivity through the Port's TASD Terminal Railway.
• Alabama & Gulf Coast Railroad (AGR)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAGR is one of four short-line railroads providing connectivity through the Port's TASD Terminal Railway network.
• CG RailwaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCG Railway is one of four short-line railroads providing connectivity through the Port's TASD Terminal Railway network.
• Alabama Export Railroad (ALE)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorALE (Alabama Export Railroad) is one of four short-line railroads providing connectivity and owns property at the Port where Ray-Mont's transloading facility is being built.
• Mobile Aeroplex at BrookleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA mixed-use industrial complex approximately 2 miles from the Port of Mobile with direct channel access, offering air, water, road, and rail connectivity. Developed originally as an army airfield and U.S. Air Force base, now serving commerce.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner for harbor deepening and maintenance dredging. The $366 million harbor modernization project was a state-federal partnership, and the Corps continues to perform berth maintenance dredging that feeds the Upper Mobile Bay Wetland Creation Project.
• Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RESTORE Council approved $24 million in RESTORE Act funding for the Upper Mobile Bay Wetland Creation Project (1,200 acres) and ~$38 million through Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Donor and Energy Transfer programs for dredging and beneficial use initiatives.
• AutoMobile International TerminalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for finished automotive terminal operations at the Port of Mobile, bringing world-class 57-acre RO/RO capabilities with 150,000 vehicle annual capacity.

Scale indicators25 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• South Carolina Ports Authority (Port of Charleston): South Carolina Ports Authority operates the Port of Charleston, an East Coast container and breakbulk gateway with comparable state-government port authority structure, capital expansion program, and Southeast U.S. hinterland competition with Mobile.
• Virginia Port Authority (Port of Virginia): Virginia Port Authority operates the Port of Virginia, a state-owned container gateway with deep draft, on-dock rail, and inland intermodal connectivity directly comparable to Alabama's multimodal value proposition.
• Georgia Ports Authority (Port of Savannah): Georgia Ports Authority operates the Port of Savannah, the largest single-terminal container facility in North America, with similar state-authority governance, intermodal rail expansion, and Southeast U.S. market focus as Alabama Port Authority.
• Port Tampa Bay: Port Tampa Bay is a Florida port authority operating container, bulk, and cruise terminals on the Gulf, directly competing with Mobile for Florida/Southeast cargo flows and sharing similar state-authority governance.
• Port Houston Authority: Port Houston is the largest Gulf container port and a Texas state port authority, directly comparable to Alabama Port Authority as a public deepwater port operator serving containers, bulk, and breakbulk cargo with similar terminal operating models and Class I rail connectivity.
• Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA): Port NOLA is a Louisiana state port authority operating deepwater container, breakbulk, and cruise terminals on the Gulf with comparable multimodal rail/barge connectivity, directly competing with Mobile for Gulf cargo market share.
• Mississippi State Port Authority (Port of Gulfport): Mississippi State Port Authority operates Port Gulfport, a smaller Gulf state-owned port authority with bulk, breakbulk, and container capabilities, offering the most direct apples-to-apples state-authority comparison on the Gulf Coast.

Broad incumbents

• Port of Los Angeles: Port of Los Angeles is the largest U.S. container port by volume, a municipal port authority that competes with Mobile for transpacific container imports while operating at much greater scale; relevant as a benchmark for container throughput and governance.

Regional players

• Port of Beaumont (Port Beaumont Navigational District): Port of Beaumont is a Texas navigation district port specializing in military, bulk, and liquid cargo on the Gulf; comparable to Mobile's McDuffie Coal Terminal operations and bulk-handling infrastructure, though geographically distant from Mobile's core hinterland.

Others

• APM Terminals (A.P. Moller-Maersk): APM Terminals operates Mobile's container terminal under a long-term concession through 2058; comparable as a global container terminal operator that partners with and competes against state port authorities worldwide, including as an investor/operator in similar Gulf facilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/al_ports
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlabamaStatePortAuth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alabama-port-authority
• Instagraminstagram.com/al_ports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alabama State Port Authority