On Monday, July 16th, the Port of New York and New Jersey’s Port of Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) unveiled its new state-of-the-art gate system which optimizes the customer experience and creates a more efficient flow. Through technological enhancements including optical character recognition (OCR) devices, upgraded weigh in motion machines, heightened security measures allowing for TWIC proxy reads; trucker turn times will be reduced by more than 25%. This strategic effort is a part of a much larger $500 million expansion plan focused on enhancing the capabilities of the terminal.

The launch of the new gate system completes the first step in the expansion and increases the capacity of the yard by 250,000 lifts. This is projected to increase by more than 700,000 lifts by the end of 2019. This terminal-wide project includes expanding the terminal’s 272-acre footprint, improving its electrical, global positioning and WiFi equipment, and adding four, super-post-Panamax cranes this year. Additional new straddle carriers are also set to arrive this year. “The expansion of the Port Newark Container Terminal is one of many concerted efforts by our terminal operator partners that we take great pride in. It exemplifies our collective goal of increasing the capacity and efficiency of the gateway, and supporting the regional economy all while creating job opportunities for members of the local community,” states the Port Director, Molly Campbell.

Federal funds were allocated to PNCT from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in 2014 through a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to augment employment and economic growth throughout the region. PNCT currently employs around 1,200 people but throughout the scope of this expansion, it is expected to add another 300 full-time paying jobs and an addition 150 construction jobs. This $14.8 million grant ensured the visibility of PNCT on national scale as the third largest container port in the United States and the largest on the East Coast. The Port of New York and New Jersey accounts for 53% of container volume throughout the Northeast and also has the fastest growing discretionary rail segment within the port industry.

“The PNCT gate infrastructure project is a prime example of the public and private sectors working together to deliver a far more efficient and capable result which the entire northeast region of the United States will benefit from for decades to come”, said Jim Pelliccio President and CEO of Port Newark Container Terminal.

The next phase in PNCT’s expansion is the Wharf Rehabilitation and Improvement project encompassing a rebuild of an unused 1,200 linear feet of wharf commissioned in 1971 without the capability to service modern day ships. With the dredging of 400 feet of berth space, this will enable the terminal to handle multiple 14,000 TEU vessels at a time, welcoming more business and economic prosperity for PNCT.