The Jacksonville Port Authority Board has approved a 25-year agreement with Seattle-based terminal operator SSA Marine to create a $238.7m international container terminal at Blount Island.
The terminal, named SSA Jacksonville International Gateway Terminal, will be an expansion of SSA’s current agreement on Blount Island. The deal expands SSA Marine’s existing 50-acre footprint at Blount Island to 80 acres, with the potential to grow to 120 acres in the future.
Jaxport said the deal will help the port accommodate larger containerships and promote growth, specifically in the Asian trade.
The agreement is for 25 years with two five-year renewal options and includes a number of improvements to the Blount Island terminal. SSA Marine will contribute up to $129.7m for the use of the terminal and facility upgrades, including the addition of three new container cranes. Jaxport will invest $109m in berth rehabilitation and upgrades which are already underway and will allow the terminal to simultaneously accommodate two post-panamax vessels.
“We are thrilled to partner with a major international terminal operator that is as dedicated as we are to contributing to the economic vitality of Northeast Florida, 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 Harbor Deepening project creates for our port and our region,” said Jaxport CEO Eric Green.
