A $570 million Restoration Project is currently underway and the Port has made significant progress toward expanding its footprint and moving firmly into the vertical phase of construction. This multifaceted project paves the way for dynamic new economic opportunities for the port, for businesses, and for the community. With the completion of an 84-acre addition, the Port of Gulfport now spans 300 acres. The comprehensive restoration program includes the construction of wharfs, terminals, container storage, three new ship-to-shore gantry cranes, and intermodal container transfer facilities. Construction is expected to be completed towards the end of 2017.
The Port of Gulfport is a bustling port strategically located on the Gulf of Mexico in Gulfport, Mississippi with easy access to open ocean waters via a short 18-mile ship channel that is maintained at 36 feet. The Port of Gulfport is ideal for ocean freight carriers serving Mexico, the Caribbean, and especially Central and South America. The Port is also within close proximity of the major East/West corridor of Interstate 10 and has direct on-dock rail service provided by the Kansas City Southern Railway .
The Port’s business development and diversification efforts are making significant strides toward the goal of positioning the Port of Gulfport as an important economic catalyst for the surrounding community and the region. The Port of Gulfport currently has seven maritime tenants including Dole Food Company, Crowley Maritime Corporation, Chemours, Gulf Coast Shipyard Group, Inc., McDermott International, Inc., Topship, LLC, and The University of Southern Mississippi. The Port also has one non-maritime tenant, Island View Casino Resort.
In November 2015, the Port of Gulfport was notified by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) that the Port had been designated as a Strategic Seaport. With this designation, America’s military will be able to utilize the Port of Gulfport for cargo and equipment shipments and adds to the South Mississippi’s extensive military installations and capabilities. The Port is now one of 17 designated Strategic Seaports in the Nation.