The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) has completed the final phase of the US$100 million berth enhancement at the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal (JCT) at Blount Island.
The last stage of the project, the rehabilitation of 700 linear feet of deepwater berthing space, was completed at the end of June in coordination with the recently completed Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project.
The SSA JCT now features a 47-foot channel depth with 2,400 linear feet of newly rebuilt berthing space capable of simultaneously accommodating two post-Panamax container ships.
The multi-faceted berth rehabilitation project began in 2016 with the installation of a high-voltage electrical system equipped to power up to 10 environmentally friendly container cranes, including three already in use and an additional three currently on order by SSA Atlantic.
Subsequently, the berths were reconstructed in a series of four phases. The project was funded 75% by the Florida Department of Transportation with a 25% JAXPORT match.
“This project significantly enhances our deepwater berthing capabilities at Blount Island, maximizing the efficiencies created by the deepening project,” said JAXPORT CEO, Eric Green.
In addition to the reconstructed berths and new cranes, more than US$72 million in phased yard improvements are underway to enable the SSA JCT to accommodate 500,000 TEU annually. The yard improvements are funded by SSA Atlantic and a US$20 million grant from the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD).
The federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to a depth of 47 feer was completed through Blount Island in May 2022, while the project included the construction of a new vessel turning basin that now allows larger vessels calling the SSA JCT to turn around at Blount Island.
