The US Department of Transportation (DOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) has awarded a US$23.5 million Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant to JAXPORT’s EXPRESS project.
The JAXPORT EXPRESS project is a US$47 million public-private partnership between JAXPORT and two of its port tenants, SSA Jacksonville and Crowley.
This grant will support sustainability initiatives at the Port’s Blount Island and Talleyrand marine terminals.
EXPRESS is one of the first large-scale investments in zero and near-zero emissions technologies for cargo handling equipment in Florida.
The initiative is designed to reduce greenhouse gases, expand energy-efficient terminal infrastructure, increase JAXPORT’s cargo throughput, and develop a plan to transition to lower-emitting port infrastructure and shipping operations.
Specifically, US$31.2 million will be spent to purchase new environmentally friendly cargo handling equipment for SSA’s Jacksonville Container Terminal (JCT) on Blount Island, including six hybrid electric rubber tire gantry (RTG) cranes, as well as nearly a dozen low- and zero-emission container handling units, forklifts, and associated charging infrastructure.
In addition, US$14.6 million will be spent at Crowley’s JAXPORT Talleyrand terminal to add nearly two dozen zero-emission machines for cargo handling, including dedicated tractors and forklifts, as well as associated charging stations for Crowley’s supply chain services.
The grant also includes the addition of 160 reefer charging stations (reefer plugs) to sustainably meet the port’s current and future growth needs without using diesel as fuel.
Congressman John Rutherford commented, “Not only will this project reduce environmental impacts on the St. Johns River, but it will also create jobs, improve efficiency, and grow the economy throughout Northeast Florida.”
