Two ship-to-shore cranes started service at the Jacksonville Port Authority’s Blount Island Marine Terminal, part of a $93 million upgrade to expand the port’s cargo-handling capability.
JaxPort announced Jan. 8 that the 50-gauge cranes moved their first containers. The port also received another 50-gauge crane at Talleyrand Marine Terminal in December 2025, and expects it to be operational by mid-2026.
The cranes at Blount Island have a lift height of 115 feet, making them some of the largest 50-gauge cranes available on the market. They are designed to serve wide vessels and can reach up to 19 containers across a ship deck.
A 50-gauge crane has 50 feet of space between each leg.
Those cranes can move an average of 33 containers each hour with a lift capacity of 65 long tons, with a heavy-lift capacity of 75 long tons for oversized, non-containerized cargo. A long ton is equal to 2,240 pounds.
The 50-gauge crane to be added to operations at Talleyrand Marine Terminal has a 100-foot lift height and can reach up to 17 containers across a ship deck.
JaxPort received $53 million in state funding over the past two years for crane purchases and upgrades.
All three cranes feature regenerative power systems, which burn energy during container lifts and recharge when lowering them.
“As cargo volumes grow, it’s essential that we continue investing in the equipment needed to serve our customers efficiently,” JaxPort CEO Eric Green said in a news release.
“We appreciate our partnerships with Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and the Florida Department of Transportation in helping position JAXPORT for future growth that supports jobs and commerce across the region and state.”