The Alabama Port Authority (APA) has awarded a contract to Richmond Engineering Works, L.L.C. (REW) for the production of two new stacker reclaimers at the McDuffie Coal Terminal in Mobile, Ala. The equipment will replace aging units installed in 1974 and 1982 as part of a $200 million modernization project.
Pittsburgh-based REW will handle engineering, fabrication, and installation. According to an APA statement, REW has committed to completing all work in the U.S., with at least 34% of the contract value ($20.5 million) allocated to Alabama-based fabricators, suppliers, and contractors. Mobile-area businesses will supply materials and services, including concrete, fasteners, and installation labor.
APA noted the new stacker reclaimers are expected to nearly double the productivity of the existing equipment. The upgrade aligns with the deepening and widening of the Mobile Harbor channel, set to be completed in May 2025. The channel’s depth will increase from 45 to 50 feet, allowing for an additional 25,000 to 35,000 tons of coal per ship, depending on vessel configurations.
Richmond Engineering Works specializes in bulk material handling equipment. APA said this project marks the first time in nearly five decades that stacker reclaimers of this size have been engineered and fabricated in the U.S.
Previously, REW completed upgrades to McDuffie Terminal’s barge unloading equipment, funded by a $20 million state appropriation in 2022. Additional public funding of $5 million for coal handling equipment was secured in 2023. The terminal primarily handles metallurgical coal mined in Alabama, which is used in global steel-making operations.
As part of its commitment to the project, REW will establish a local office in Mobile, staffed with engineers and technicians. The office is expected to remain operational for at least two years to support the project.
