Strategically located near the Goethals Bridge in Staten Island, Howland Hook occupies a 187-acre tract that is readily accessible to major truck routes, and has the capability for on-dock rail service connecting to the North American intermodal rail network. The facility consists of 2,500 linear feet (760 meters) of berth, 147 acres of open area for container storage; seven container cranes; 200,000 square feet of warehouse for stuffing and stripping as well as for dry reefer and hazardous cargoes; and a 66,400 square-foot temperature-controlled warehouse for temperature-sensitive cargo. The terminal is designated as one of the port's military cargo load-out centers.

To fully utilize Howland Hook’s capabilities, several development projects are already under way:

• The berths at the terminal are being extended a total of 500 feet to provide enough space to allow the terminal to work three ships at a time.
• Two new Post-Panamax cranes have been ordered and are expected to be operational in 2004.
• An intermodal rail terminal is being constructed east of the current marine terminal site on the "Port Ivory" property, which was purchased by the Port Authority in 2000.