Berth 22 can accommodate car vessels as much as 750 toes in general size. (Jacksonville Port Authority)
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The Jacksonville Port Authority has accomplished half of a $60 million undertaking to extend capability for car shipments after lately ending development on Berth 22 on the port’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.
Now Florida’s largest container port has two devoted roll-on/roll-off cargo berths with a heavy-lift cargo berth load capability as much as 2,000 kilos per sq. foot.
A high port for break-bulk and car cargo, Jaxport’s auto processors, Amports and Southeast Toyota Distributors, moved greater than 509,000 automobiles final yr. Blount Island boasts a 47-foot harbor depth and is near Jaxport’s Dames Level Intermodal Yard.
“Beforehand, bigger ro-ro vessels calling on Blount Island might solely use Berth 20, which is adjoining to Berth 22. Now, now we have two devoted ro-ro berths at Blount Island that may serve bigger ships (berths 20 and 22), as an alternative of only one,” mentioned Chelsea Kavanagh, Jaxport’s chief communications officer.
Berth 22 can accommodate car vessels as much as 750 toes in general size. Building took a yr to finish. It’s the first of two car berth initiatives in a $60 million effort to extra effectively deal with further ro-ro cargo.
The variety of jobs in Jacksonville’s port ecosystem continues to develop 🦺
In line with a brand new research, greater than 28,000 persons are employed in port-dependent positions — direct, oblique, and induced jobs that depend on the port. These jobs cowl a spread of specialties, from gross sales,… pic.twitter.com/vm0TSJpUIL
— JAXPORT (@JAXPORT) February 12, 2025
This yr additionally marked the beginning of the ultimate undertaking section. A brand new car berth (Berth 21) might be constructed over two years. Completion is slated for early 2027.
Enhancing the port’s car berths will increase efficiencies for auto prospects and gives further capability to accommodate future development, supporting Jaxport’s function as one of many nation’s high vehicle-handling ports.
“Sustaining congestion-free vessel amenities as cargo volumes develop is a vital a part of our short- and long-term planning processes,” Jaxport CEO Eric Inexperienced mentioned. “These upgrades permit us to serve our auto prospects extra effectively whereas offering further capability for future development, so we will proceed to construct on our place as one of many nation’s high vehicle-handling ports.”
A lot of the undertaking, 75%, is being paid for by the Florida Division of Transportation, whereas Jaxport is contributing the rest.
In line with Jaxport, cargo exercise there helps 228,000 jobs in Florida and ends in $44 billion in annual financial impression for the area and state.
In a associated growth, Southeast Toyota Distributors lately opened its 416,000-square-foot elements distribution heart in Jacksonville to modernize operations distribution.
Southeast Toyota Distributors‘ elements distribution heart in Jacksonville. (Southeast Toyota Distributors)
The middle will quickly broaden its attain to 80 of the corporate’s 177 Toyota sellers throughout Florida, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
“This state-of-the-art facility is a key part of our general technique to modernize operations and optimize distribution,” mentioned Eric Carter, group vice chairman of operations. “It displays our dedication to higher serve our sellers and their prospects by making certain they’ve the elements and assist they should succeed.”
Meant to assist 4.3 million Toyota homeowners, the elements distribution heart options 70 lively robots in its automated storage and retrieval system in addition to 65,000 distinctive half numbers.
“With security and effectivity as priorities, the middle features a devoted tools charging space to attenuate interactions between employees and machines,” the corporate famous. “Further facilities, akin to a grab-and-go meals market, a sport room and lockers, improve the work atmosphere for associates.”
The middle is anticipated to distribute hundreds of car elements and equipment in its first yr of service.
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