News & Updates

JAXPORT’s Efficiencies Offer Relief for Shippers Looking to Escape U.S. Port Congestion

The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) has maintained berth and terminal fluidity—and set a new container volume record—amid global supply chain disruption. This success is due in large part to the efficiencies of JAXPORT’s facilities, labor, and service providers, combined with the port’s strategic location within fast reach of 98 million U.S. consumers.

Florida ports like JAXPORT are a solution to the nation’s port congestion problem. “We have the opportunity to provide shipping lines and beneficial cargo owners a more efficient route that can get their product not only to the third largest domestic market in the country but also to other markets outside of Florida within two days,” Florida Ports Council President and CEO Michael Rubin recently said about the efficiencies of the state’s seaports.

The most recent sign that the industry is taking notice of JAXPORT’s advantages—global shipping line Hapag-Lloyd announced that the company is temporarily rerouting a European container service through JAXPORT. The change is part of an effort to “optimize our service portfolio, stabilize schedules and adapt to market needs,” according to Hapag-Lloyd.

Hapag-Lloyd’s Atlantic Loop 3 (AL3) rotation will begin calling JAXPORT’s TraPac Container Terminal in mid-November. The service call will last for at least eight weeks and bring an estimated 1,000 additional TEUs (containers) a week through JAXPORT.

JAXPORT is finishing its current fiscal year on a high note, on pace to move a record 1.4 million TEUs (containers) while achieving strong vehicle volumes.

Looking ahead, 2022 will be a year of incredible growth and opportunity for Jacksonville’s port. JAXPORT’s single biggest growth initiative—deepening of the shipping channel to 47 feet—will be completed through Blount Island by the end of next year. The deepening includes construction of a vessel turning basin to allow larger ships to turn at Blount Island berths.

Building on the efficiencies created by the deepening project, JAXPORT recently awarded a $48 million construction services contract for terminal improvements to enable the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal at Blount Island to accommodate more containers. Upon completion of the project in 2024, the SSA facility will be able to accommodate up to 500,000 TEUs (containers) annually, a 150 percent increase over the facility’s current throughput. The expansion will grow JAXPORT’s total TEU throughput capability to nearly two million TEUs a year, an increase of more than 40 percent.

Other improvements include more than $100 million in berth enhancements to enable Blount Island to simultaneously accommodate two post-Panamax vessels, which will be completed in coordination with the deepening project.

JAXPORT is Florida’s largest container port and one of the nation’s top vehicle-handling ports. For more information about putting Jacksonville’s efficiencies to work for your business visit JAXPORT.com.