Port History
The Port of Jacksonville, Florida, has a rich maritime history.
The Jacksonville Port Authority was created by a special act of the Florida Legislature in 1963 to develop, maintain and market Jacksonville’s port facilities.
Travel back to 1562, and you would see Jean Ribault and his French Huguenots crossing a shallow sand bar into what is now called the St. Johns River. In 1565, English traders sailed into the mouth of the St. Johns and traded guns and ammunition for food and a vessel with the French Huguenots who had settled at Fort Caroline. This transaction was the first recorded act of international waterborne commerce in the New World; hence, Jacksonville is known as America’s First Port.
Chartered by the state of Florida, the Authority was created as a government entity that would operate in a business-like fashion.
2020—Current
JAXPORT sets new port record for largest container ship ever to call Jacksonville
JAXPORT set a new port record May 9, 2023, with the arrival of the vessel ONE STORK, the largest container ship to ever call Jacksonville.
Operated by shipping line Ocean Network Express (ONE) within THE Alliance network of ocean carriers, the ONE STORK has a carrying capacity of 14,000 TEUs (containers). Previously, the largest ships to call JAXPORT had a capacity of 11,923 TEUs.
jaxport's First trans-Atlantic service in decades begins
The first vessel in U.K.-based Ellerman City Liners‘ trans-Atlantic service made its inaugural call to the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) recently. JAXPORT representatives presented a plaque to the crew of the container ship SC Mona Lisa to recognize the ship’s maiden voyage to Jacksonville.
ZIM upsizes four vessels on 2M Jacksonville service, largest container ships ever to service JAXPORT
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has upsized four vessels utilized in its weekly container service operated through the 2M Alliance calling JAXPORT, replacing the smaller ships with two larger 11,700-TEU and two larger 11,923-TEU vessels.
The four newly-built ships are the largest ships ever to be included in a regular port rotation at JAXPORT. The recently completed 47-foot harbor deepening project provides the water draft needed for these larger vessels to call the port regularly.
JAXPORT completes final phase of $100 million in berth improvements to enhance container handling capabilities at Blount Island
The final phase of $100 million in berth enhancements at the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal (JCT) at Blount Island is completed. The last stage of the project, the rehabilitation of 700 linear feet of deepwater berthing space, was completed at the end of June in coordination with the recently completed Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project.
The SSA JCT now features a 47-foot channel depth with 2,400 linear feet of newly rebuilt berthing space capable of simultaneously accommodating two post-Panamax container ships.
Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project complete through JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal
Federal, state, and local leaders joined JAXPORT and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District to celebrate the completion of the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening Project through JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. The project deepened 11 miles of the federal shipping channel—from the sea buoy to Blount Island—to a depth of 47 feet from its previous depth of 40 feet.
Southeast Toyota Distributors and JAXPORT announce $210 million agreement to relocate and expand company’s vehicle processing operations
The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Board of Directors unanimously approved a $210 million long-term lease and relocation agreement with Southeast Toyota Distributors (SET), the world’s largest independent distributor of Toyota vehicles. SET is a subsidiary of Deerfield Beach, Florida-based JM Family Enterprises.
Ceres Terminals and JAXPORT announce long-term, $60 million investment in TraPac Jacksonville container terminal
The JAXPORT Board of Directors unanimously approved a 20-year, $60 million agreement between Ceres Terminals and JAXPORT for the lease and modernization of the TraPac Jacksonville container terminal in Jacksonville, Florida.
2010—2020
First of its kind LNG-powered vehicle carrier calls JAXPORT
The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) welcomed Siem Confucius, the world’s first vehicle carrier of its size operated by cleaner, greener liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The vessel arrived at JAXPORT from Veracruz, Mexico and unloaded factory-new Volkswagen Group of America cars and SUVs at the port’s Blount Island Marine Terminal during its maiden voyage to the United States.
The 7,500-car-capacity Siem Confucius is the first of two new LNG-powered ships built by Siem Car Carriers AS and commissioned by Volkswagen Group of America. Siem Car Carriers says the ships reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25 percent and sulphur oxide emissions up to 100 percent
JAXPORT sets port record with largest container ship to call Jacksonville
The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) set a new port record with the arrival of the ZIM vessel Kota Pekarang, the largest container ship to ever call Jacksonville.
The 11,923-TEU (container) vessel is operated by ZIM on a service offered by the 2M Alliance, comprised of Maersk, MSC, Hamburg Süd and strategic partners HMM and ZIM. The Kota Pekarang, which transited the Panama Canal from Northeast Asia before reaching the U.S. East Coast, discharged and loaded cargo at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.
JAXPORT AND SSA REACH AGREEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TERMINAL
JAXPORT’s Board unanimously approved a long-term agreement with experienced terminal
operator SSA Marine for the development and operation of a state-of-the-art, $238.7 million
international container terminal at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. The facility, SSA
Jacksonville International Gateway Terminal, is an expansion of SSA Marine’s current leasehold
at Blount Island and will offer deepwater berthing space to accommodate the larger container
ships calling JAXPORT from Asia more fully loaded.
JACKSONVILLE HARBOR DEEPENING BEGINS
After a decade of study, independent review, public input and full regulatory approval,
contractors for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening
project to take the federal shipping channel to a depth of 47 feet. The Dutra Group was
awarded the contract to construct the project’s first three mile segment.
NEW CRANES ARRIVE
Three state-of-the-art 100-gauge electric container cranes arrived at the Blount Island Marine
Terminal. The new container cranes are equipped to service wider, post-Panamax vessels
with the ability to reach across 22 containers, a significant increase from the 16 container
capabilities of the terminal’s current cranes. Each electric crane will work on regenerative
power, consuming power during the lifting of containers and creating energy as they lower.
The use of electricity will increase energy efficiencies and reduce emissions.
JAXPORT WELCOMES 2 MILLIONTH CRUISE PASSENGER
A North Carolina woman becomes the 2 millionth passenger to arrive for a cruise through
JAXPORT’s cruise terminal. Carina Alejandro and her family received VIP treatment
throughout their 4-day trip aboard the Carnival Elation.
JAXPORT ICTF OPENS
JAXPORT’s newly completed Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) at Dames Point is
used in support of a high-level military training exercise in advance of its official opening to
commercial container movements.
JAXPORT Welcomes the world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered containership
TOTE Maritime's Isla Bella entered service in the fourth quarter of 2015 between Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The second Marlin Class vessel, the Perla de Caribe, entered service in the first quarter of 2016.
By moving to natural gas, an environmentally superior fuel, the Marlins reduce NOx emissions by 98 percent, SOx by 97 percent, carbon dioxide by 72 and particulate matter by 60 percent over the Ponce Class ships – the company’s previous vessels .
JAXPORT CRUISE TERMINAL WELCOMES ONE-MILLIONTH PASSENGER
An Arkansas eighth grader becomes the one-millionth passenger to arrive for a cruise through
JAXPORT’s cruise terminal. Emily Wilt and her family received VIP treatment throughout their
5-day trip aboard the Carnival Fascination.
2000—2010
PROJECT BRINGS FEDERAL CHANNEL TO 40 FEET
The third phase of the St. Johns River harbor deepening project is completed. Contractors for
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District deepened 5.3 miles of the river from mile
14.7 to mile 20, from a depth of 38 feet to 40 feet. Completion of this portion of the project will
help JAXPORT remain competitive, specifically to accommodate depth requirements of fully-loaded
cargo vessels.
JAXPORT’S TRAPAC CONTAINER TERMINAL OPENS FOR BUSINESS
Following 36 months of design, permitting and construction the TraPac Container Terminal
at Dames Point welcomed its first vessel on January 13, 2009. During its first year of operation,
TraPac handled twice weekly ship calls at the state-of-the-art facility.
Jacksonville gets direct container service to asia
JAXPORT signed a 30-year lease agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), a Tokyo-based
logistics and ocean transportation company. The agreement called for the construction of a
158-acre container-handling facility, with two 1,200-foot berths, six Post-Panamax container
cranes, and other infrastructure necessary to accommodate the new Jacksonville-Asia
container connection.
Cruise lines begin service in Jacksonville
Celebrity Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines both announced plans to begin regular service
from Jacksonville -the city’s first regular cruise service. JAXPORT built a temporary cruise
terminal in only six months. Celebrity kicked off their Jacksonville service with an 11-night cruise
to the Caribbean on Oct. 27, 2003 aboard the 1,375-passenger Zenith.
JPA divides into JAXPORT and JAA
During its 2001 regular session, the Florida Legislature repealed the JPA’s existing charter and
abolished the JPA by enacting Chapter 2001-319, Laws of Florida. Two new authorities were created:
the Jacksonville Airport Authority took over control and operations of all aviation facilities formerly
controlled by the JPA, and the Jacksonville Seaport Authority (doing business as the Jacksonville
Port Authority, or JAXPORT) was created to handle all matters related to the marine operations and
facilities formerly controlled by the JPA. The seaport continued to call itself the “Jacksonville Port
Authority” or “JAXPORT.”
1950—2000
Port authority acquires third marine terminal
JPA acquired the final property for its third marine terminal, Dames Point. While JPA owns nearly 600
acres at the site in northeast Jacksonville, plans call for potentially leaving more than one third of the
property in its natural state to protect environmentally sensitive wetlands.
U.S. ARMY CORPS DEEPENS HARBOR TO 38 FEET
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deepened the St. Johns River from 34 to 38 feet, a depth
maintained for more than 20 years.
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE CREATES THE JACKSONVILLE PORT AUTHORITY
Eager to build port business for the community, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and Senator
Jack Mathews urged the State Legislature to create the Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA). The City
transferred to the JPA the Talleyrand Municipal Docks near downtown and a tract of land known as
Goat Island, later renamed Blount Island. The original Charter granted the Port Authority 1.5 miles of
ad valorem taxing authority in order to provide a certain revenue flow for capital investment.
Jacksonville's port enters automobile market
The first shipment of imported automobiles (seven Volkswagon Beetles) moved through Jacksonville's port.
The harbor deepens again, this time to 34 feet
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deepened the St. Johns River from 30 to 34 feet in 1952.
Pre-1950s
The St. Johns River deepens to 30 feet
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deepened the St. Johns River from 24 feet to 30 feet in 1916.
Voters approve first port construction bond
Jacksonville voters approved a referendum on selling $1.5 million in construction bonds used to build the municipal docking facilities on about 160 acres in the Talleyrand area.
Jacksonville's harbor deepens to 24 feet
The main channel of the St. Johns River was deepened to 24 feet, allowing larger ships to call upon Jacksonville.
St. Johns River deepens for the first time
A dredging project deepened the main channel of the St. Johns River to 15 feet in 1895. The dredging cost $1.8 million, which included $300,000 from the first bond issue ever sold by Duval County. At the turn of the century, downtown Jacksonville harbored 30 private waterfront ship terminals transferring cargo between ship and rail.
Jacksonville's port gains prominence
By the time Florida achieved statehood in 1845, Jacksonville was an important port for timber and cotton trades. The city was occupied and burned several times during the Civil War, but by the early 1880s Downtown Jacksonville had recovered and was thriving as a winter tourist destination
Jacksonville becomes official U.S. port of entry
In 1822, inhabitants of the area around the small river crossing called Cowford petitioned the American government to grant their new city official status as a port of entry to the United States. They renamed their new city: Jacksonville.
Along the banks of the St. Johns River, John Hawkins participates in the first commercial port transaction in what would become the United States. The Jacksonville Port Authority later records the copyrighted designation "America's First Port"