Expansion Project at Jacksonville Port Authority Wraps Up

Contractors for Florida’s largest container port Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) have completed a year-long, multi-million dollar construction project to expand Vehicle Berth 22 at the Blount Island Marine Terminal.

According to Jaxport, this expansion is part of a $60 million initiative aimed at enhancing efficiencies and enabling the berth to accommodate larger vehicle vessels than before. The Florida Department of Transportation covered 75% of the funds, with Jaxport matching the remaining 25%.

The completion of Berth 22 now allows ships with an overall length of approximately 750 feet (228.6 meters) to dock at the terminal.

Construction has already begun on the second berth at Blount Island, with an estimated completion time of 24 months, set for early 2027.

“Maintaining congestion-free vessel facilities as cargo volumes grow is an important part of our short and long-term planning processes. These upgrades allow us to serve our auto customers more efficiently while providing additional capacity for future growth, so we can continue to build on our position as one of the nation’s top vehicle-handling ports,” said Jaxport CEO Eric Green.

Investments in Port Infrastructure

In recent years, Jaxport has made significant investments to improve its berths and operational efficiency at the Blount Island container terminal. The final stage of a $100 million berth enhancement project at the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal (JCT) was completed in spring 2022, with support from the Florida Department of Transportation.

Additionally, over $72 million in phased yard improvements to accommodate 500,000 TEUs annually at SSA JCT were initiated, funded by SSA Atlantic and a $20 million grant from the US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD).

Jaxport also secured a $23.5 million grant from the Department of Transportation in November 2022 to reduce harmful pollutant emissions. Another $31.2 million was allocated for purchasing environmentally friendly cargo handling equipment for SSA JCT.

Industry-wide Decarbonization Efforts

As the maritime industry focuses on decarbonization efforts, ports across the US are investing in eco-friendly equipment, technology, and infrastructure. In November 2024, MARAD allocated nearly $580 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund 31 port improvement projects in 15 states and one US territory.

Furthermore, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced the recipients of the Clean Ports program grant, aimed at supporting the deployment of zero-emission equipment and technology.