Built by American Export Lines, the site originally housed a B & O coal dumper, which was completed in 1949.[1] The terminal was purchased in 1973 by the New York City government for $47.5 million,[2] and United States Lines moved its container port operation there that year.[9] The terminal operates a 3,012 feet (918 m) long wharf on the Arthur Kill, with three berths for container ships.[11] Facilities include container storage, a deep-freeze refrigerated warehouse and United States Customs Service inspection.[12] The terminal includes an on-site seven-track ExpressRail intermodal facility [13] that connects via the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge to New Jersey and the national rail network.