Two New Container Cranes Arrive at JAXPORT

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Two new 50-gauge ship-to-shore container cranes have arrived at the Jacksonville Port Authority’s (JAXPORT) Blount Island Marine Terminal. Manufactured by Germany-based Liebherr Crane Company, the cranes arrived in multiple large components and are being assembled on the terminal. The cranes are expected to be operational by the end of 2025.

A third 50-gauge crane is currently being built at Liebherr’s facility in Ireland. Scheduled for delivery in December 2025, the third crane will be deployed at the port’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal in early 2026.

The new cranes are designed to handle wider vessels. Each can reach up to 19 containers across a ship’s deck and have a container lift capacity of up to 65 long tons. The cranes feature regenerative power systems, which consume energy during container lifts and generate electricity when lowering them—enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

The acquisition of the three cranes was made possible through a total of $53 million in state funding the State of Florida allocated to JAXPORT over the past two years for crane purchases and upgrades.

“We are grateful to Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and the Florida Department of Transportation for their longstanding support of Florida’s largest container port,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “The state’s continued investment in world-class transportation infrastructure allows more cargo to move through Jacksonville, supporting jobs and economic growth for our region and the state.”

The port continues to modernize its crane fleet, with more than $40 million in additional crane upgrades planned over the next five years.

Located in the heart of the Southeast U.S., JAXPORT is Florida’s No. 1 container port by volume and one of the nation’s top vehicle-handling ports. JAXPORT offers fast and efficient vessel operations with a 47-foot deepwater shipping channel, two-way ship traffic, and same-day access to 98 million U.S. consumers. Cargo activity through Jacksonville’s seaport supports more than 258,800 jobs in Florida and contributes $44 billion annually to the region and state’s economy.

Components of the new Liebherr cranes currently being assembled at JAXPORT.