SSA Marine to develop and operate $238.7m container terminal at Jaxport

he agreement is for 25 years with two five-year renewal options and includes a number of improvements to the Blount Island terminal.

The terminal, SSA Jacksonville International Gateway Terminal, will be an expansion of SSA Marine’s current leasehold at Blount Island and will ad 80 acres of space for terminal operations with option to grow up to 120 acres with deep-water berths for large post-panamaxes. 

 SSA Jacksonville International Gateway Terminal will have a vessel turning basin and deep-water access of 47 feet upon completion expected in 2023 of the Jacksonville harbour deepening project. 

 SSA Marine is to contribute up to $129.7m for the use and upgrades of the of the facility, including the addition of three new 100-gauge container cranes. Jaxport will complete $109m in berth rehabilitation and upgrades already underway which will allow the terminal to simultaneously accommodate two post-panamax vessels.

 “The port’s strong leadership team and strategic location in the growing southeast US market—combined with the efficiencies created by a deeper harbour— give us the tools we need to operate a world-class container terminal and further position Jacksonville as a gateway for global trade,” Mark Knudsen, SSA Conventional president, said.

 “The significant investments SSA Marine has committed to this facility, accompanied by their unparalleled industry knowledge and experience, allows us to take full advantage of all of the opportunities the Jacksonville harbour deepening project creates for our port and our region,” Eric Green, Jaxport ceo, commented.

 SSA Marine has activities at more than 250 terminal facilities and rail operations in the US, Canada, Latin and South America, Asia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Jaxport owns, maintains and markets three cargo terminals, an intermodal container transfer terminal and a passenger cruise terminal along the St. Johns River, in Florida.