The Delaware River port system is one of the busiest in the nation, as the region is a major receiving point for goods from around the globe. But it is incumbent on port operators to continually invest in infrastructure improvements to ensure efficiency for existing clients and to attract new business.
Christian Holt of Holt Logistics, which services the operators of the Gloucester Marine Terminal and the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, said that several projects are either under way or in the planning stages, which will help keep its facilities state-of-the-art.
“Gloucester Terminals will make over $20 million of infrastructure and renewal investment in 2025,” Holt told The Produce News. “We have onboarded and implemented new operating systems, along with hiring more than 15 managers/supervisors. In addition, in 20 months there will be two to four new cranes showing up on the shores of New Jersey.”
Detailing some of the infrastructure investments, Holt noted that more than 470,000 square feet of buildings were removed from the dock on Gloucester Marine Terminal to provide more space for containers and reefer plugs.
Also, a new 15,000-square-foot inspection dock will be created for fast-moving cargo that needs to be inspected and to market as expeditiously as possible. And new efficient inbound and outbound gates will help cargo flow seamlessly through Gloucester.
For inbound cargo, Holt said improvements include increasing inbound OCR lanes, with a separate bypass lane for 53-foot trucks that allows full metering of the vehicles that enter the terminal. Additionally, a new surface road intersection is being constructed to help facilitate the vehicle inbound process, enabling all truck processing to be handled off terminal.
“On the outbound, we are adding RPM lanes, and going from one outbound kiosk to three, and new secondary check lanes will be established to handle any issues that arise,” he said. “There will also be two separate bypass lanes for the outbound 53-foot trucks.”
Another major improvement is the addition of reefer plugs and container laydown space, which will increase the capacity of refrigerated containers to more than 2,500, and empty container capacity to over 1,400.
The Packer Avenue Marine Terminal also has several projects that will boost efficiency and attract new business, according to Holt.
As of July 1, four electric rubber tire gantry cranes (ERTGs) came online, marking a more than $30 million investment in densifying the terminal.
“The ERTGs will allow the terminal to handle more containers and free up yard space for additional ocean strings to call Philadelphia,” said Holt.
He noted that the PhilaPort Distribution Center is located five minutes from PAMT, which encompasses 200,000 SF of dry space and will add 165,500 SF of refrigerated and frozen space that will support container growth at the terminal.
“Over 27,000 pallets of fruits, veggies, seafood, petfood and other perishable products will call this brand-new Class A building ‘home,’” said Holt. “The first piece of steel was set on Nov. 5, 2024, and on April 10, 2025, the final piece of steel was set. As of June 13, the building and outside walls were complete, and by the end of the summer the building will be prepared for new refrigerated and frozen customers.”
Holt said the groundbreaking was significant for the port community and customers looking for a near dock solution that will focus on quality and food safety as well as speed to market.
Holt said the Port of Philadelphia is ready and able to handle new business. “The investments that have been made by the Holt family and the commonwealths (PA/NJ) have led to an explosion in new business, which creates new jobs and additional economic activity in the region,” he said.
Among the new customers calling the Port today: now active are:
- Green Tide Logistics (new service) calls Gloucester Terminal with an all-new direct five to six day ocean service from Mexico to Philadelphia.
- Seaboard Marine (new service) North Atlantic-North Central America service will operate from the Gloucester Marine Terminal and offers weekly service connecting the U.S. Northeast with Central America, including Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
- Seaboard also has another new service that offers the fastest direct ocean service from Colombia to Gloucester.
- Crowley (new service) implemented a new service, five-day transit between Gloucester and ports in Guatemala and Honduras, enabling the timeliest deliveries of food, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods.
- Maersk has tapped the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal to become an outlet for services, carrying thousands of containers of dry goods.
“Packer Avenue is one of the fastest port to rail (CSX Intermodal) moves in the country and has the capacity to double current rail volume from PAMT to CSX Philadelphia,” said Holt.
He added that sales and customer service teams are working daily to maintain and grow volumes with other major carriers, such as MSC, Maersk, Hapag Lloyd, CMA and ZIM.
“The river would be ecstatic to see a direct Asian string call Philadelphia,” said Holt.
Holt said the Port of Philadelphia, including Packer Avenue and Gloucester marine terminals, are focused on building a reputation based on trust and transparency with customers from all over the world
Part of that effort has included attendance and participation in industry events, such as trade shows and visits with growers, shippers and customers in their home countries, as well as inviting customers to Philadelphia to see the investments in, on- and near-dock refrigerated infrastructure.
