PhilaPort Opens First Terminal in More Than 45 Years

by John Jordan Globest.com
Officials at PhilaPort officially opened the $110-million 155-acre Southport Auto Terminal and Vehicle Processing Center on Tuesday, the first new terminal at PhilaPort in more than 45 years.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf along with the facilities operator Glovis America’s CEO and head of Americas of Hyundai Glovis JinWoo Jeong cut the ribbon marking completion of construction and the opening of the state-of-the-art facility on Tuesday.
Glovis America will process more than 200,000 Hyundai, Kia and other original equipment manufacturer vehicles this year at the processing center. “Pennsylvania needs a top tier Port facility to compete in global markets,” said Jeff Theobald, PhilaPort executive director and CEO. “This new facility the best of its kind on the East Coast.”

The new VPC at Southport is equipped with a state-of-the-art body shop including two car washes with two double prep stations and two joined double paint booths. The VPC at Southport is capable of servicing 200 cars per hour and fully processing more than 1,000 cars daily.
Many of the unique features of this site are not found in other Ports. Southport was built as one continuous facility, located directly adjacent to PhilaPort’s Pier 122—a dedicated auto berth. The layout allows autos to be discharged from the vessel and driven straight to the first point of rest, located on the same terminal, PhilaPort officials state. The facility is also the only one of its kind on the East Coast built above the 100-year floodplain. Southport is located at a unique nexus of deep-water and highways and is serviced by two class I railroads—CSX and NS—with additional service by CN.

Gov. Wolf said the terminal is projected to stimulate an estimated $124 million in economic activity, as well as create as many as 2,500 jobs.
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