Five challenges for JaxPort
The drive to make Jacksonville one of the East Coast’s top-tier ports could be knocked off course by a number issues.
Waterway currents: The biggest ships face restrictions on when they can enter Jacksonville harbor because of strong currents at the Intracoastal Waterway. A fix will cost $60 million.
Hanjin on hold: Plans for building a cargo terminal for Hanjin are on hold while the company negotiates a labor contract with the International Longshoremen’s Association.
Shallow harbor: Deepening the harbor to 48 feet will cost several hundred million dollars and Jacksonville faces stiff competition for the money.
Aging infrastructure: Existing port docks and equipment are aging and will require repair and replacement to fulfill the needs of current tenants.
Weak economy: Cargo and revenue have been on the upswing in 2010 but still haven’t recovered to pre-recession levels of growth.