U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administrator Rear Adm. Mark Buzby joined elected officials and leadership from JAXPORT and SSA Marine on November 22 to break ground on a new international container terminal at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.
The SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal is an expansion of SSA’s current leasehold at Blount Island and includes $238.7 million in infrastructure and equipment upgrades.
“This facility represents a milestone in the evolution of our port,” said JAXPORT Vice Chairman Jamie Shelton . “Together, with the support of Secretary Elaine Chao, our federal, state and local partners, and SSA Marine – we are investing in our region’s future and ensuring JAXPORT can continue to create more jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Northeast Florida.”
According to JXPORT, operations will continue throughout the redevelopment, which is expected to be complete in 2023 – coinciding with the completion of the federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet. Harbor Deepening is ahead of its original schedule and anticipated to be finished later that year, based on continued funding.
Phased yard improvements are underway at the terminal that will allow the facility to accommodate up to 700,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) annually.
Berth upgrades are expected to be complete in 2021 and will allow the terminal to simultaneously work two post-Panamax vessels.
The Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project includes construction of a vessel turning basin that will allow larger vessels calling on the terminal to turn at Blount Island.