The Jacksonville Port Authority will receive a $20 million federal grant for the reconstruction of more than 100 acres of terminal pavement at the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.
The grant is part of a $238 million plan to expand and upgrade the facility, with more than 65% of the money coming from private partner SSA Marine.
When completed, the facility will be able to handle approximately 425,000 additional 20-foot-equivalent-units annually. Other improvements to the terminal will include storm drainage, improved lighting, signage and utilities.
SSA Atlantic provides stevedoring, terminal and logistical service for Fibria Celulose, Inc. of Brazil.
That includes operating a 240,000 square foot ship-side warehouse with rail and truck loading. The company also provides terminal and barge loading for Trailer Bridge’s services to Puerto Rico.
The grant was awarded through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Discretionary Grant program, a U.S. Department of Transportation initiative to invest in port and other transportation projects to achieve national objectives.
“The award of this highly competitive grant speaks volumes about the significance of this project to the economy of our region and country,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green in a news release.
The SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal is a public-private partnership between JAXPORT and SSA Marine.
SSA Marine is contributing up to $129.7 million for the use of the terminal and facility upgrades, including the addition of three 100-gauge container cranes.
In addition, $109 million in berth rehabilitation and upgrades are currently underway that will allow the terminal to simultaneously accommodate two post-Panamax vessels.
The federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 feet is scheduled to be completed in 2023, based on continued funding from all partners, and will allow the facility to accommodate larger ships from Asia stopping at JAXPORT.