JACKSONVILLE INVESTING for NEXT CARGO SURGE by John Powers
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JACKSONVILLE TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION JACKSONVILLE INVESTING FOR NEXT CARGO SURGE By John Powers 42 THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE www.joc.com MAY 1.2017 iming high, and overachieving, is Jacksonville’s burgeoning Asian business. a slight uptick in volumes, though not at has been the guiding approach Volume in this trade lane grew 19 percent in the double-digit level, Director of Customer A for Jacksonville, Florida, logistics fiscal 2016 to more than 336,000 containers, Service and Business Development John growth in the 21st century. “For the last accounting for fully 35 percent of the Mullins noted. This was driven by out-of- 15 years we’ve experienced year-over-year port’s total container traffic. This growth gauge import and export machinery and growth. Our strategy is to set our budgets is particularly impressive considering the heavy industrial equipment moving by aggressively, and we have consistently port was only marginally involved in the container ocean carriers. exceeded them. For example, in 2016 we Asian trades prior to 2009, when TraPac With the addition of the 2M Alliance aimed for overall growth of 5 percent, and opened its Jaxport terminal. Since that — Maersk Line and Mediterranean our final results came in at more than time, double-digit growth has occurred Shipping Co.— Jaxport now boasts service 6 percent,” said Roy Schleicher, Jacksonville each year. from the three major carrier consortia, Port Authority’s executive vice president Private and public stakeholders which includes the THE Alliance and the and chief commercial officer. understand that this growth has a Ocean Alliance. “We’re hopeful that the Since 2010, containers and cars price, President and CEO of the Florida larger vessels in their fleets will result in have been the port’s growth engines. Ports Council Doug Wheeler explained. more allotments for our port. Potentially, Containers accounted for 45 percent of “Certainly, a highlight of Jacksonville’s double vessel size will equate to twice total port volumes. For the fiscal year recent successes has been a substantial as many slots for our customers. We are OF SECTION ADVERTISING SPECIAL ending last September, Jaxport handled increase in Asian trade. One of the drivers receiving only positive signals from all three a record 968,000 TEUs, eclipsing the for this success has been the investments alliances, and each has experienced good previous standard of 937,000. Factoring they are making, specifically their new growth,” Schleicher said. in containers moving through private intermodal container transfer facility and At the nation’s second-busiest autoport, terminals, total containers handled through ongoing dredging initiative,” he said. automobiles and other rolling stock Jacksonville exceeded 1.2 million TEUs. The Asian activity has provided accounted for nearly 35 percent of total Leading the surge in container traffic Jacksonville-based Portus Stevedoring with port traffic, with nearly 700,000 units SOUTHEAST’S PREMIER HEAVY-LIFT STEVEDORE specialized cargo handling needs. COMMERCE OF JOURNAL THE Key differentiators that distinguish Por- ortus is the premier out-of-gauge The company mission is to deliver port, tus from other waterfront operations are: P heavy lift and project cargo stevedore terminal, cargo-handling and warehouse • Employees dedicated solely to Portus. in the southeastern United States. Portus solutions that are driven by collaboration, • Safety and Health Achievement will accept any and all challenges to seek innovation, and creativity to meet customer Recognition Program (SHARP) certified. out transportation solutions that meet expectations and create superior solutions. • Certified Master Riggers. and exceed customer needs. The recently Portus core competencies involve pro- • On-dock management. renovated berth in Jacksonville is equipped viding access to the following markets: • Skilled, professionally qualified, and most to handle cargoes up to 1,800 pounds per • Heavy-lift, breakbulk, bulk, project, and importantly, flexible labor. square foot. Portus is home to the South- roll-on, roll-off stevedoring. • Extensive handling equipment and east’s highest on-dock rail capacity of 78 • Container stevedoring with automation lifting gear. kips (78,000 pounds) per axle. Combine solutions. • On-site steel fabrication shop. this with direct dockside Class I rail service • Terminals-yard management and marine • An award-winning state-of-the-art, through CSX, and Portus can move your gate services with automation solutions. internet-based terminal operating system. cargo from rail to ship in one motion. Pound • Container freight station and cross-dock Contact Portus today to learn more for pound, Portus is the Atlantic Seaboards’ services with automation solutions. about how they can solve your cargo leading heavy lift and project logistics berth handling needs. n and terminal. As a service provider, Portus’ employees Portus’ corporate office is in Jacksonville, are at the core of everything the company www.portus-us.com • [email protected] Florida, with operations at Florida’s Blount does. Portus is proud to have invested 904-757-1170 Island Jacksonville Terminal. Portus also has time, money, and resources in its people. locations in Florida’s Port Everglades and The company not only educates its staff Cape Canaveral, and Sunny Point, North in standard maritime industry practices, Carolina. but also customizes training based upon www.joc.com THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE 43 JACKSONVILLE TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION crossing Jacksonville terminals last year. types of containers, including more than shipping and logistics services between The balance of port activity landed in the 300 53-foot containers per vessel, making Jacksonville and San Juan. The investment conventional and bulk cargo categories. this the only trade globally that has such encompasses construction of two new, Notwithstanding growth in the equipment. The ships handle oversize cargo LNG-powered combination container/ Jacksonville-Asia lane, Puerto Rico remains and heavy lifts, as well as cars and vehicles roll-on, roll-off ships, new terminal facilities the port’s No. 1 market. A key factor in in specially designed car carriers. With the and gantry cranes in San Juan, and terminal this corridor is the versatility of the vessels additional ability to pump on and off bulk improvements in Jacksonville, including plying the trade. “TOTE Maritime Puerto liquids and transport dry and refrigerated LNG bunkering infrastructure. Rico operates the world’s first liquefied cargo in a variety of configurations, these Jaxport is equally invested in minimizing natural gas powered container ships, the ships can meet the ever-changing needs of its carbon footprint. “We’ll soon be most environmentally friendly container Puerto Rico, he said. taking delivery of our first two LNG- ships in the world. The Marlin-class lift-on, Crowley Maritime is also planning holding tanks. It’s safe to say the LNG lift-off vessels are the most versatile in the an entrance to the LNG arena with the revolution is starting here in Jacksonville,” Puerto Rico trade, supported by a seamless launch of its new Commitment-class ship El Schleicher said. A further example of network of port facilities, support systems, Coquí, one of the world’s first combination the port’s greening initiatives is its three, and inland transportation resources. With container/roll-on, roll-off ships powered newly operational container cranes. Each a fixed, twice-weekly sailing schedule by liquefied natural gas. Use of LNG as the employs regenerative power, consuming between Jacksonville and San Juan, TOTE primary fuel will reduce carbon dioxide power during the lifting of containers and Maritime Puerto Rico provides flexible and emissions by 35 percent per container creating and storing energy as they lower, efficient transportation solutions for all as compared to existing fossil fuels, the simultaneously reducing overall energy cargo moving to Puerto Rico and the Virgin company reported demand and emissions. Islands,” President Tim Nolan said. This is the first in a series of milestones In last year’s Jacksonville special, Custom-built for the Puerto Rico trade, expected to be achieved as part of we reported on the port community’s Nolan explained, the new Marlin-class Crowley’s $550 million project to concerted efforts to position it as a viable vessels can accommodate various sizes and expand and modernize the company’s and desirable alternative for both shippers THE JOURNAL OF COMMERCE OF JOURNAL THE FLORIDA PORTS HELP BUSINESSES THRIVE Florida seaports reap vast economic rewards for the state that continues to grow. Cargo and cruise activity currently lorida is home to 15 seaports that Florida seaports have state leadership support nearly 700,000 jobs in Florida. F deliver seamless and efficient move- to thank for an extraordinary level of Ports contribute $96.6 billion of output to ment for a broad assortment of freight, as financial, and other, support. The focus the state’s economy, equivalent to about well as passengers. They serve a diverse on the role of its seaports in capturing 13 percent of Florida’s gross domestic consumer market within the state (and international trade and improving freight product. across the country) and are champions mobility is due to recognition of their Florida’s seaports are creating momen- SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION OF SECTION ADVERTISING SPECIAL of both international trade and domestic tum around economic vitality. They are cargo movement. Florida is also the clos- achieving it by improving global competi- est connection between Latin America tiveness and increasing mobility for people and Caribbean trade partners and the US and freight. They have enhanced the Midwest and Northeast, offering access diversity and flexibility of their assets, and to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. are creatively optimizing how those assets Each year, Florida increases its connections are used. Florida ports are prioritizing capi- to Asian and European trade lanes. tal investments and maximizing the use of Together, there is no business or cargo scarce resources. Florida ports can’t handle.