$15 million helicopters move through JAXPORT

Highly trained master riggers working for stevedoring company Portus moved four multimillion dollar helicopters through JAXPORT’s heavy lift and specialty cargo berth at Blount Island Marine Terminal, one of the nation’s highest weight-bearing capacity docks.

The helicopters are 50 feet in length, weigh 10,000 pounds each, and are worth $15 million apiece.

Workers used specialty equipment to roll the helicopters off the U.S.-flagged Liberty Global Logistics ro/ro vessel Liberty Pride.

The helicopters, which arrived at JAXPORT from the Middle East, are owned by a U.S. Government ally and are being trucked to a manufacturing facility in the U.S. Southeast for refurbishing. Each helicopter will receive $10 million in upgrades before being shipped back to the Middle East through JAXPORT.

The heavy lift cargo berth at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal offers up to 1,800 pounds per square foot of load capacity with rail capability up to 78 kips per axle for heavy cargo. JAXPORT also has the highest and widest cargo clearance available for port access by rail on CSX’s national system: 20 feet high and 13 feet wide. The port offers worldwide cargo service, including direct service with Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and other key markets.

For more information about JAXPORT’s heavy lift capabilities, visit JAXPORT.com/HeavyLift.