JAXPORT Starts Making Way for Post-Panamaxes

Florida Governor Rick Scott yesterday officially kicked-off JAXPORT’s USD 43.5 million Mile Point harbor improvement project, which will remove an existing navigational restriction in the St. Johns River.

Mile Point consists of 5,000 feet of shoreline located along the north shore of the St. Johns River and east of the Intracoastal Waterway (IWW). Great Marsh Island and the Mile Point Training Wall divide Chicopit Bay. The project combines relocation/reconfiguration of the existing training wall, restoration of Great Marsh Island, and the creation of a flow improvement channel in Chicopit Bay.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the construction scheduled for completion in late 2016.

”Since taking office, my administration has invested more than USD 850 million in seaport infrastructure improvements in Florida, which has helped make our state a global trade leader and has created thousands of jobs,” said Governor Scott.

”In February, I was excited to announce that Volkswagen Group of America chose JAXPORT as the location of its import facility and Southeastern distribution center, and in April, I announced Nestle USA was shifting a majority of their U.S. to Puerto Rico shipments from the Port of New York and New Jersey to JAXPORT. We look forward to welcoming more shippers and businesses to JAXPORT because of this important investment.”

Currently, larger container ships can only travel the St. Johns River during two four-hour periods of the day due to the tidal effects at the Mile Point location. The improvement will correct cross-currents that keep larger ships from using the channel. The US Army Corps of Engineers approved the project, however, no federal funding was appropriated. The state of Florida advanced the funding to ensure completion of the project.

”I applaud Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature for jump-starting the funding of this USD 43.5 million project. With the Panama Canal expansion 90% complete, this project will greatly strengthen the port’s ability to successfully compete for more post-Panamax ships in the future,” Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Boxold said.