Sponsored By

JAXPORT gets additional $75m for harbour deepeningJAXPORT gets additional $75m for harbour deepening

The Jacksonville City Council has unanimously awarded the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) $75m for the ongoing harbour deepening project.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

August 3, 2020

1 Min Read
jaxportnew
Photo: JAXPORT

The amount is comprised of a $35m grant and a $40m loan.

“It’s a historic win for our community and the 15,000 jobs that will be created or protected by the Jacksonville Harbour Deepening Project,” JAXPORT said.

The project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to a maximum depth of 12.5m (50 ft) from its current depth of 10m (40 ft) will be completed in 2023. Upon completion of the deepening the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal at Blount Island will feature a vessel turning basin and have the ability to simultaneously accommodate two post-Panamax vessels.

It will allow larger container ships to call JAXPORT with more cargo on board, bringing more profit to the region.

Jacksonville’s maritime labor unions have advocated for a deeper harbour for more than a decade and describe the funding as “monumental for the hardworking men and women who work in and around JAXPORT’s terminals.”

“As Northeast Florida’s economic engine, JAXPORT will continue to play a vital role in the economic recovery of our region and state,” JAXPORT ceo Eric Green said.

Earlier this year, the US federal government also allocated $93m for the next phase of deepening the Jacksonville shipping channel.

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like