• 3 min de lectura
• 3 min de lectura
SSA Marine has completed an investment program of over USD 100 million aimed at modernizing and expanding the capacity of the Jacksonville Container Terminal (JCT). The facility is located on Blount Island and is operated by the company within the Jaxport port complex in Florida, United States.
The project seeks to increase container transfer capacity, improve operational efficiency, and enable the terminal to serve larger container ships.
Among the main works carried out, the incorporation of three new Super Post-Panamax ship-to-shore cranes stands out, doubling JCT's fleet of this type of equipment from three to six units.
In addition, four new rubber-tired gantry (RTG) cranes were installed to optimize container movement within the terminal.
The modernization also included lighting renovation, the construction of nearly 100 acres of high-strength pavement, and the redesign of the land access complex, which now features six new outbound lanes designed to improve truck flow.
"Our modernization project not only makes JCT more operationally efficient but also positions both SSA Marine and Jaxport for continued growth for many years to come," said Frank McBride, SSA Marine's Regional Vice President of Florida Operations.
Increased Capacity
SSA Marine, which has maintained a relationship of over 40 years with Jaxport, completed a USD 72 million terminal modernization project in 2025. Subsequently, the company made additional investments in cargo handling equipment, bringing the cumulative expenditure to over USD 100 million.
Currently, the Jacksonville Container Terminal has two berths totaling 2,380 linear feet (725 meters) and boasts an annual capacity exceeding 650,000 TEU.
The new Super Post-Panamax cranes will allow for more efficient handling of some of the largest container ships calling at Jacksonville, while the RTGs are helping to streamline the movement of units within the facility.
According to SSA Marine, the initial results are already visible. The company indicated that the new RTGs have reduced import cargo delivery times, facilitating faster container departures from the terminal.
The improvements also aim to maximize the advantages offered by Jaxport's 47-foot (14.3-meter) navigation channel, an infrastructure that allows the port to receive larger vessels and move cargo more efficiently.
SSA Marine's investments coincide with Jacksonville's growth as a logistics and distribution hub for the United States.
According to Jaxport, over 98 million U.S. consumers are within a one-day truck drive from Jacksonville. The city also has direct connections to Interstates I-10 and I-95 and Class I rail services provided by CSX and Norfolk Southern.
At the port level, Jaxport is also advancing a project to increase the operational air draft of the St. Johns River navigation channel to 205 feet (62.5 meters), with a total height of 225 feet (68.6 meters). This initiative is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
"One of the things that sets JCT apart is our personalized customer service. Continuous process improvement is a central focus for us, and our team provides timely updates on cargo status, something our customers value," McBride stated.
