AMPORTS Completes US Network with Port Freeport Stevedoring Deal

JACKSONVILLE, FL – January 16, 2026 – AMPORTS has finalized its coast-to-coast operational footprint with the acquisition of Red Hook ConRo Terminals’ stevedoring operations at Port Freeport, Texas. The move marks the culmination of a multi-year strategic expansion, creating a national, integrated network designed to streamline the complex logistics of the North American automotive industry.

The acquisition, announced today, extends AMPORTS' in-house stevedoring services to the U.S. Gulf Coast, a critical gateway for domestic and international trade. This follows the company's deliberate entry into the vessel-handling business, which began at its Benicia, California terminal in November 2024 and expanded to its Atlantic and Chesapeake terminals in Baltimore in June 2025. By adding Port Freeport, AMPORTS now directly manages the entire process—from unloading vehicles off ships to processing them on land—across the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts.

“This acquisition represents the next step in the deliberate expansion of our stevedoring business,” said Vee Kachroo, CEO of AMPORTS, in a statement. “Since launching our first stevedoring operation, we’ve demonstrated the value of integrating vessel discharge directly with our on-terminal services. Adding Port Freeport allows us to deliver those same benefits - greater control, transparency, and consistency - to customers across all major U.S. coasts.”

A Strategy of Integration and Control

The acquisition is more than just a geographic expansion; it represents a fundamental shift toward a fully integrated service model. By bringing stevedoring—the physical loading and unloading of cargo ships—under its own corporate umbrella, AMPORTS aims to eliminate the operational handoffs that can create delays, data gaps, and inefficiencies for its automotive clients. This single-provider approach is designed to give Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) a seamless, transparent view of their supply chain from the moment a vessel docks.

This strategy has been validated at its other locations. In Benicia, the company reported “measurable benefits” within months of launching its own stevedoring services, including improved productivity, faster vehicle processing, and reduced dwell times for OEMs. The Benicia team successfully unloaded its 100th roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel just five months after launch in 2024. Similarly, the Baltimore operation handled over 3,000 vehicles on its first day in June 2025, demonstrating the company's ability to rapidly deploy its integrated model.

By replicating this success in Texas, AMPORTS solidifies its position against competitors in the highly specialized automotive logistics sector, where companies like Wallenius Wilhelmsen and GLOVIS America also vie for market share. The industry trend is clear: major players are increasingly focused on providing end-to-end solutions that offer greater control and predictability in a volatile global market.

Fueling Port Freeport's Rapid Ascent

The move also serves as a powerful endorsement of Port Freeport's growing prominence as a key automotive and Ro-Ro hub. Recognized as one of the fastest-growing ports in the United States, Port Freeport has seen its vehicle throughput skyrocket. In 2024 alone, the port handled 162,239 vehicles, a staggering 78% increase over the previous year. This growth is supported by significant infrastructure investment, including a $295 million project to deepen and widen the Freeport Harbor Channel, set for completion in late 2025, which will accommodate larger, more efficient vessels.

AMPORTS is already a major presence at the port with a 75-acre, 10,000-space facility, operating alongside Volkswagen's 120-acre terminal. The acquisition of Red Hook ConRo's operations builds on this foundation. Red Hook, which began its Freeport operations in 2015 to support General Motors and other OEMs, brings over a decade of stevedoring experience and a skilled workforce that will remain in place under the new ownership.

“Our team will continue delivering the high service standards our customers expect while benefiting from the scale and capabilities of AMPORTS,” stated Robin Langseth, General Manager of Stevedoring Services for AMPORTS and former Red Hook Terminals Director of Gulf Operations. This continuity is expected to ensure a smooth transition and maintain the operational excellence that carriers and manufacturers rely on.

Redefining the Automotive Supply Chain

For automakers, the benefits of this integrated model are tangible. The traditional port logistics chain involves multiple vendors: a shipping line, a stevedoring company to unload the vessel, and a terminal operator to process, store, and prepare vehicles for inland transport. Each handoff is a potential point of friction. By collapsing these roles, AMPORTS offers a single point of contact and accountability, leveraging data analytics and tracking technology to provide the real-time visibility that is crucial for managing modern supply chains.

This is particularly vital as ports evolve from simple transit points into value-added service centers. Increasingly, activities like pre-delivery inspections (PDIs), software updates, accessory installations, and specialized battery checks for electric vehicles (EVs) are performed at the port. An integrated operator like AMPORTS is better positioned to efficiently sequence these tasks, further reducing the time it takes for a vehicle to get from the factory to the dealership.

The acquisition of Red Hook's experienced team and specialized equipment at Port Freeport is the final, critical piece in AMPORTS' national strategy. It underscores a long-term commitment to investing in the infrastructure and integrated services necessary to deliver speed, accuracy, and value in an increasingly complex and high-demand logistics environment.