Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz and JaxPort CEO Eric Green show off the Memorandum of Understanding. (JaxPort photos)
Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz and JaxPort CEO Eric Green shake hands.
Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz is presented with a plaque by JaxPort Board Chairman Jamie Shelton.
The Memorandum of Understanding is on display after the signing ceremony.
Seated from left, JaxPort Board Chairman Jamie Shelton, JaxPort CEO Eric Green, Mayor Lenny Curry, Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz and Florida DOT Secretary Kevin Thibault take part in the event.
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and other dignitaries watch the event.
Trailer Bridge CEO and President Mitch Luciano, Mayor Lenny Curry, JaxPort CEO Eric Green, Crowley Maritime Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley and TOTE Inc. President and CEO Tim Nolan.
The leaders of the Jacksonville and Puerto Rico port authorities signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 26 to affirm the work of the organizations to grow maritime trade.
Puerto Rico Ports Authority Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz, JaxPort CEO Eric Green, Mayor Lenny Curry, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault and JaxPort Board Chairman Jamie Shelton signed the document at JaxPort’s board of directors meeting.
The memorandum of understanding states that its purpose “is to strenghthen the business relationship between the Parties and protect and grow maritime trade between the ports of San Juan and Jacksonville with the ultimate goal to increase jobs and economic impact for both communities.”
“There are historical ties and a decades-long relationship between the two parties,” Pizá Batiz said in a news release.
“The benefits to both ports and both cities of inter-port cooperation will achieve the goals of building deeper business relationships of mutual benefit and promoting economic growth.”
JaxPort says the city is the No. 1 port in the U.S. for trade with Puerto Rico, handling nearly 90% of all sea trade. Puerto Rico also is Jacksonville’s No. 1 trading partner by annual cargo volume, with nearly 800,000 container units and thousands of automobiles shipped annually between the two regions.
“Trade with Puerto Rico represents about half of JaxPort’s container business, a percentage that has held steady even as our international volumes have continued to grow over the years,” Green said.
“We look forward to this continued partnership and are proud of the benefits it will have for both communities for generations to come.”
“This MOU highlights the strong connection between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico and strengthens our efforts to collaborate when and where both communities can benefit,” Curry said in the release.
“With our friends and colleagues in Puerto Rico, we’ll continue to see greater job growth and economic development for our communities in the years ahead.”
The event was attended by leaders of the three Puerto Rican ocean carriers headquartered in Jacksonville: TOTE Inc. President and CEO Tim Nolan, Crowley Maritime Chairman and CEO Tom Crowley and Trailer Bridge CEO and President Mitch Luciano.
