SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
JACKSONVILLE TRADE AND LOGISTICS
Harbor Deepening Project completed in 2022 , which brought the port ’ s shipping channel from its previous depth of 40 feet to 47 feet and modernized the large container berths that service the terminal . This positioned the port as the first US East Coast port of call for fully loaded post-Panamax vessels .
“ Our business benefits from the moves Jaxport is making to generate more logistics industry growth for the region ,” said Aundra Wallace , president of regional economic development organization JAXUSA . “ With two-way ship traffic , harbor depths reaching 47 feet , connections to 17 global shipping lines and the distinction of hosting the world ’ s first liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) -powered container ship , Jaxport showcases innovation and progress . The port ’ s extensive reach across 140 ports in more than 70 countries has gained recognition from companies interested in expanding operations and utilizing newer technologies to advance their business .”
Trailer Bridge has also seen major benefits of continued port improvements , said Luciano , noting the significant increase of activity taking place during the dredging project .
“ It immediately started bringing people through the Panama Canal , and they
started getting some calls from Europe . That has created more customers into the marketplace , which helps us build our logistics footprint ,” he said .
An example of this is Trailer Bridge ’ s plans to build a new warehouse next to their corporate office , giving them the closest warehouse to Jaxport .
“ Because of the activity Jaxport did at Blount Island , we are now able to look at building a warehouse ,” said Luciano . “ Now if they didn ’ t do that , could we still do it ? Maybe , but I ’ m more confident now that we will fill that space up pretty quickly .”
“ Our business benefits from the moves Jaxport is making to generate more logistics industry growth for the region .”
“ If you look at the road we ’ re on , when I first started 12 years ago , there were one or two warehouse spaces ,” he added . “ Now there [ are ] millions of square feet ; it ’ s amazing . And it ’ s … because of what Jaxport did .”
ARC Shipping , a provider of port-to-port and end-to-end transport of government www . joc . com April 22 , 2024 | Journal of Commerce 11