Ocean cargo: Port of Jacksonville benefits by surge in U.S. exports

Patrick Burnson, Executive Editor -- Logistics Management, 4/17/2008

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The shifting Asia-US trade pattern and deployment changes in containerized shipping are doing good things for exporters using the Port of Jacksonville, said port officials.

“We are seeing a lot of growth in all our outbound services,” said Deborah Lofberg, director of market services and Free Trade Zones for the port. “The auto sector—both new and used—is a main mover now. Demand for frozen food in Eastern Europe and consumer commodities in the Caribbean has also been key drivers for ocean carriers serving the port.”

And with more Asian carriers putting Jacksonville in their fixed sailing schedules, U.S. exporters have something else they have trouble getting elsewhere: boxes.

“Having the new inbound calls really helps with the repositioning of containers,” said Lofberg. “The word is getting out in the 3PL community.”

Last year at this time, the port was welcoming Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) at the new 130-acre TraPac Container Terminal at Dames Point. Dredging is still being done to take the waterway down to 40 feet, but when completed later in 2008, it will be fully operational.

Since then, yet another Asian carrier has announced its willingness to invest in the port.

Hanjin Shipping Company LTD has moved closer to initiating a new 170-acre container terminal facility in Jacksonville following negotiations earlier this month in Seoul, South Korea. The Port of Jacksonville signed a detailed development agreement with the carrier which expands on the Memorandum of Understanding put together last year.

“We are pleased with our results to date, and we look forward to full Board consideration and approval of the final lease agreement soon,” said Ron Baker, the port’s deputy executive director and CFO.

The Hanjin Container Terminal is slated to open in 2011 and cost an estimated $400 million to develop.