The recently completed harbor deepening project provided the water depth needed for the 11,714-TEU (containers) ZIM Thailand to call the SSA Marine Jacksonville Container Terminal at Blount Island this week.
In a few days, JAXPORT will also welcome one of the vessel’s sister ships, the 11,923-TEU ZIM USA – tying the port record for the largest container ship ever to call JAXPORT.
Jacksonville’s deeper harbor allows larger ships like ZIM Thailand and ZIM USA to call JAXPORT with imported and exported cargo, providing jobs, economic impact and supply chain security for the citizens of Florida.
The project deepened 11 miles of the federal shipping channel- from the sea buoy to Blount Island – to a depth of 47 feet from its previous depth of 40 feet.
The 47-foot harbor provides the channel depth needed for larger ships to call Blount Island to and from destinations worldwide and allows existing ships calling Jacksonville to carry more cargo on board.
In addition, the project includes a new turning basin allowing larger vessels to turn around at Blount Island berths.
Deepening through Blount Island was completed three years ahead of the original project schedule.
The total funding to date is $420 million funded through a public-private partnership between the federal government, State of Florida, City of Jacksonville, JAXPORT, and SSA Atlantic.