Federal regulators have given the green light to build a massive new shipping facility at the former Sparrows Point steel mill site. The project will significantly expand cargo capacity at the Port of Baltimore, boosting regional economic activity.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a major shipping expansion project that will transform part of the former Sparrows Point steel mill into a modern container terminal facility.
Federal officials from the Baltimore District office granted the necessary permits in December 2025 for the Sparrows Point Container Terminal project, a partnership between Tradepoint Atlantic and Terminal Investments Limited. The development will add significant cargo handling capacity to the Port of Baltimore.
The massive undertaking will span 330 acres within the current Tradepoint Atlantic industrial complex in Baltimore County. Because of the project’s scale and complexity, it required special authorization from the Secretary of the Army working through the Corps of Engineers.
Federal environmental reviewers used the FAST-41 process to coordinate the permitting timeline. This congressionally-created system helps streamline environmental assessments for major infrastructure developments while maintaining thorough oversight.
The approved construction plans call for building approximately 3,000 linear feet of waterfront terminal infrastructure. This will include a main wharf equipped with ship-to-shore cranes, extensive container storage areas, entry gates, railroad connections, and various support buildings. Additional work involves land excavation, shoreline reinforcement, and drainage systems.
To accommodate large cargo vessels, workers will need to deepen and expand the current Sparrows Point Channel and its turning area to 52 feet below mean lower low water. This dredging operation will move roughly 4.2 million cubic yards of sediment to approved disposal sites. The channel will maintain its connection to the main Brewerton Federal Navigation Channel.
Corps engineers completed a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate potential effects on local communities, the economy, and natural resources. The final assessment incorporated public feedback on earlier drafts and examined various project alternatives and their environmental consequences.
This container terminal represents the latest major step in redeveloping the historic Sparrows Point steel manufacturing site. Tradepoint Atlantic began this transformation in 2014 with the goal of strengthening the Port’s competitive position by expanding its container processing capabilities.
The facility will feature direct rail connections that, combined with the Howard Street Tunnel improvement project, should dramatically increase container movement through the Port. Officials expect this infrastructure to support long-term economic growth and improve supply chain reliability across the region.
Additional details about the regulatory approval process are available on the Army Corps project website at https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/SPCT/.