by Anthony DeMatteo
Staff Writer
Men and women from different continents chatted and exchanged business cards Monday at a windy Dames Point Marine Terminal before the ground breaking of a new link between Jacksonville and the world’s largest continent.
Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown and councilwoman Pat Lockett-Felder joined Jacksonville Port Authority executives and others in turning the first rocks for the $220 million TraPac Container Terminal at Dames Point.
The 130-acre terminal, which will provide the Port’s first direct cargo service to Asia, is set to begin operations in late 2008.
TraPac operates terminals as part of the international shipping company, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., whose President and Chief Executive Officer in America, Osamu Suzuki, delivered a load of limerock from a truck he operated at the ceremony.
“World trade keeps on growing,” said Suzuki. “It grew 10 percent last year and that trend will continue.”
Suzuki said unlike many major American cities, Jacksonville has ample room to grow its cargo business.
“East Coast cities like New York and New Jersey have little room for expansion,” said Suzuki. “But in Jacksonville, there is good potential. And the population increase here will attract retailers to open new distribution centers. We are very much looking forward to our container terminal relationship here in Jacksonville.”
Phase I construction on the project has begun. Phase II is out for bidding. The Port estimates a billion dollars of economic impact in northeast Florida from the terminal, including 6,000 new jobs.
Standing in front of pyramids of aggregate piled at Martin Marietta’s bulk cargo site behind him, the Port’s Executive Director Rick Ferrin called the St. Johns River the city’s “most valuable asset.”
“We’ll be moving more cargo through this facility than all of our other facilities combined,” said Ferrin.
Ferrin estimated that in 10 years, the River City will be home to the third-largest port on the east coast of the United States.
The Port’s Board Chairman Tony Nelson, who operated the truck into which Suzuki dropped limerock, said the terminal has special meaning to him.
“I’m especially pleased because I’m a Northsider,” said Nelson.
Peyton said the location of the terminal will mean progress for what he called the city’s top priority – growing the economy.
“We’re not only talking about good jobs, but good jobs in a good part of town that really needs them,” said Peyton.
Brown said the Port is a key to economic progress in northeast Florida.
“I’ve always felt that the Port can be the real engine to take us forward to the next level,” she said. “We have invested in the infrastructure and it will pay off in high-paying jobs not just for Jacksonville, but the region.”