The completed projects include three fully electric ship-to-shore cranes that produce no diesel emissions, to serve ships carrying up to 14,000 TEUs, alongside new rubber-tyre gantry cranes and a new 50ft-deep berth to accommodate the new cranes and larger ships.

Other terminal improvements include expanded container storage and new refrigerated container racks.

Among the port’s ongoing infrastructure projects are power retrofits to existing rubber-tyred gantry cranes to increase the overall operational efficiency of the terminal and reduce emissions.

“Supporting these critical infrastructure projects at Conley Container Terminal is crucial to Massachusetts and New England’s competitiveness in the global marketplace,” said Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker. “I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of our federal and state partners and Massport to help protect the thousands of local jobs throughout the Commonwealth [of Massachusetts] and the future growth of the port.”

Prior to the Port’s modernisation, Conley offered two services reaching seven major global ports. With the completion of the infrastructure investments, it now offers direct connectivity to China, north Europe, south-east Asia including Vietnam and India, the Mediterranean, Middle East and Latin America through five services, with a sixth service that is scheduled to start in this month. Conley now has direct connectivity to 25 global ports.

“With a deepened Boston Harbor and modern container facilities, the Port of Boston is providing greater global connections for Massachusetts businesses and supporting thousands of jobs,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland. “None of these infrastructure improvements would have been possible without the leadership and support of our federal, state, and local elected officials and the business community.”

The Port of Boston generates $8.2bn in annual economic impact and supports more than 66,000 jobs. As the only full-service container terminal in New England, Conley Terminal enables more than 2,500 businesses throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and New England to ship and receive products globally.

“The Port of Boston is a vital gateway connecting the global marketplace with businesses across Massachusetts and New England,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “The expansion and modernisation of this terminal mirrors our city’s commitment to support and invest in the local economy, contributing to the sustainable growth of local jobs and businesses.”

The news at Boston comes at a time when the global container throughput is continuing to show signs of recovery compared to 2021 levels, according to recent data from Drewry.

The Drewry Global Container Port Throughput Index dropped 2.1% month-on-month in July 2022 but was 3.3% higher year-on-year.

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