The new Delaware Container Terminal, under construction near Edgemoor, is intended to expand the Port of Wilmington's container capacity and accommodate larger vessels. 

Photo courtesy of Enstructure

Gov. Matt Meyer (D) signed the state's Fiscal Year 2027 capital budget June 29, approving the additional funding. The appropriation follows the Diamond State Port Corp. (DSPC) board's approval of a revised financing plan last month.

The revision was prompted by an increased estimate for Phase 1 due to inflation, scope changes supporting terminal electrification and tariff-related cost escalation, according to board documents.

Demolition of remaining structures and rail infrastructure has begun at the Edgemoor site to prepare for dredging, with DSPC stating the first phase began June 1. 

Enstructure spokesperson Laurie Stovall told ENR by email that work this summer will include removal of existing marine structures, dredging the berth pocket for deep-draft vessels, construction of a new bulkhead and sitewide earthwork activities. 

Expanded Engineering Scope

The additional funding supports a substantially expanded engineering scope beyond the marine terminal itself.

The equipment package includes conversion of four existing ship-to-shore cranes and two rubber-tired gantry cranes from diesel to electric power, installation of nine new electric rubber-tired gantry cranes, 110 electric terminal tractors, 15 electric top handlers and 54 direct-current fast chargers. 

The project is intended to quadruple the port's container capacity, accommodate larger container vessels and meet growing international cargo demand, while also freeing capacity at the existing Port of Wilmington for military and agricultural cargoes as well as potential offshore wind cargoes.

According to May 2025 DSPC board minutes, Enstructure told the board it had signed Walsh Group & Soletanche Bachy JV as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor after completing a request-for-proposals process.

Stovall confirmed the joint venture is serving as the EPC contractor, with Jacobs serving as lead designer.

Project documents reviewed by ENR identify Jacobs as lead designer and engineering consultant for electrical infrastructure supporting ship-to-shore crane electrification, charging infrastructure and rubber-tired gantry crane yard expansion, a role Enstructure confirmed.

The documents identify Paul Bridges as the specialty consultant for crane electrification work and list Kone, Orange EV/TICO and Taylor Machine Works as proposed suppliers for major electric cargo-handling equipment.

Under the project's long-term concession agreement, Enstructure subsidiary Port Wilmington is responsible for procuring equipment and construction contractors. The company said a notice to proceed has been issued to the EPC contractor with a targeted completion date in early 2029.

The EPA Clean Ports grant application states the arrangement will leverage Enstructure's "national footprint of marine terminal operating experts."

The project cleared a major regulatory hurdle in April when the Dept. of the Army issued permits authorizing wharf construction and dredging following additional navigation and safety analyses requested after earlier litigation.

"This marks a definitive turning point for the DSPC's expansion project," DSPC Chair Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez said.