JAXPORT is far from alone in securing projects of this magnitude. In Antwerp, Belgium, a massive new container terminal opened on July 6. Billed as "the biggest of its kind in the world," the US$737-million tidal container terminal is designed to bolster the Port of Antwerp's position as one of the top ports in the world.
      Once the new dock becomes fully operational, it will double the current container capacity at Antwerp. The dock is 1.5 miles (2.5 km.) long and 4,844 ft. (450 m.) wide and at full capacity will handle up to 7.5 million containers a year. An estimated 5,000 new jobs are expected to be created by the expansion.
      In other major port-related activity worldwide:Dubai Ports International, one of the world's leading port operators, earlier this year completed the acquisition of CSX World Terminals for $1.14 billion. The deal makes DPI one of the six largest terminal operators in the world. Significantly, the deal will make DPI the operator of the new Pusan Newport, South Korea terminal, a nine-berth facility with a capacity of 5.5 million TEUs. That project is under development, with completion expected in 2006.
      Singapore-based Flextronics announced July 15 that it will build a $105-million industrial campus within the Port of Tanjung Pelepas Free Zone in Malaysia to house production and logistics operations for the company and its suppliers. The new plant, which will employ up to 12,000 workers in three shifts, is set to open in April 2006.
      Ace Hardware Corp. announced June 25 that it will open a 427,000-sq.-ft. (39,668-sq.-m.) distribution center for imported goods in Sumner, Wash., to take advantage of Sumner's close proximity to the ports of Tacoma and Seattle and the Sea-Tac Airport. The project represents a capital investment of US$24.2 million.
      Alabama Gov. Bob Riley signed legislation in May to fund an $80-million commitment to the Alabama State Port Authority's planned container port in Mobile. EADS recently selected Mobile as the site of a new assembly plant for a new air tanker, pending Congressional approval of a Department of Defense contract.