Industry Update: Port Authority

Port Authority Activity is Buzzing

Port activity remains a busy industry for fiberglass conduit. Ever since the Panama Canal was widened in 2016, more and more U.S. ports are following suit with upgrades to accommodate bigger ships and new technology. To provide some perspective, old Panamax ships hold 5,000 shipping containers. New Panamax ships hold 13,000 containers.

With larger ships carrying more cargo, it’s easy to understand why port construction activity is humming. Some estimates say U.S. port construction market size will increase 5% to about $2.44 billion by 2020. The largest ports are Los Angeles, New York/Newark, New Orleans, Long Beach, Savannah and Houston.

Fiberglass conduit offers a solution in these environments because it stands up to corrosive environments like saltwater and the extreme UV exposure of intense sunlight. With UV stabilizers and pigments in its standard epoxy resin, the effects of weathering are minimized and the conduit maintains its strength and durability. Additionally, its light weight and portability in the field make port authority installations fast and cost efficient. Project managers also like that fiberglass conduit is easy on the budget at the onset.

For resources, check out our port authority page that includes a pier project. And let us know if you’ve seen success in port authority projects using Champion Fiberglass conduit.