As Massachusetts looks ahead towards a cleaner, more affordable energy future, MassCEC is taking steps to modernize and best serve the needs of the offshore wind industry at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal (NBMCT). Since construction broke ground at the NBMCT in 2013, offshore wind projects and their components, including towers, blades, and nacelles, have increased in size. To increase the facility’s handling capacity and throughput, MassCEC has taken the initiative to advance an expansion and improvement of the facility which will reduce project risks, increase its competitive position, and present new opportunities for utilization. The Phase 3 project builds on prior Terminal developments (Phase 1 in 2017 and Phase 2 in 2022), which added 7.7 acres of heavy-lift laydown areas as well as office and warehouse spaces.
A Special Purpose Port Facility
The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal currently exists as a leader in the offshore wind port space, as the first purpose-built facility capable of staging the uniquely heavy turbine components. Among the heaviest of these components is the turbine nacelle, which weighs over 750 US tons (1.5 million pounds). One of the most important aspects of the NBMCT’s design is the extensive area of unobstructed laydown space for component marshalling. The vast, unimpeded space allows developers and their contractors to organize and prepare turbine components for offshore installation during the pre-assembly phase of their project construction campaigns. The NBMCT is located in close proximity to offshore project areas, which reduces the transport time for project vessels supporting construction offshore.
Phase III: Expanding Capacity
The Phase 3 project for the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal expansion includes the following major elements:
- An additional 5 acres of contiguous heavy-lift storage area, increasing the total area by 24% to 26 acres;
- An additional 200 linear feet of heavy-lift quayside, increasing the available bulkhead by 20% to 1,200 linear feet; and
- A refurbished warehouse and office space for terminal tenants and MassCEC staff.
This work began in early 2025 and substantial progress has been made. As of December 2025, MassCEC’s contractors have completed:
- Demolition and abatement of three legacy buildings acquired in 2024
- Site-civil development of 2.6 acres, north of the existing heavy-lift facility
The current estimate for overall project completion is by the end of 2028. This is subject to change as MassCEC and its team continue to refine plans based on progress to date, efficiencies in contract scope packages and timing, and other factors. Once its Phase III expansion concludes, the NBMCT will better serve the offshore wind industry regionally while also supporting other marine heavy lift and project cargos.
Driving Jobs, Investment, and Industry Growth
For more than a decade, MassCEC has invested in New Bedford’s port infrastructure, supporting the offshore wind industry and local economy. As the offshore wind construction hub for the port, the NBMCT has played a critical role in the development of one of the nation’s first commercial-scale Offshore Wind projects in the United States, Vineyard Wind 1. In this role, the NBMCT has supported the delivery, storage, and shipment of wind turbine components for the project over the past three years, hosting more than 200 heavy marine vessel calls, dozens of businesses, and hundreds of skilled trade workers. The Vineyard Wind project has delivered significant investment in the local economy and workforce, including more than 3,700 US jobs since 2017.
Future utilization of the NBMCT for large scale projects will create similar economic opportunities across the Commonwealth and Southeast region. The Terminal’s ability to support a broad range of marine and project cargoes makes it well suited to support large scale project development across many industries. To learn more, visit the NBMCT webpage.