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Largest ship to call on Jaxport offers foreshadowing, port leaders say

Jaxport hit a major milestone Monday, welcoming the largest cargo vessel that has ever docked in Jacksonville.

Leaders call it a sign of the times.

The Cape Sounio arrived from Asia with thousands of containers. But even though it can carry up to 11,000 containers it didn’t dock fully loaded at Blount Island because the harbor isn’t deep enough.

For Jaxport leaders, each container means more jobs.

Jaxport CFO Beth McCague said the ship’s presence shows the significance of the harbor deepening project.

STORY: Sen. Rick Scott pushes for $140M in funding for ports

“Once the port is deepened then the biggest ships in the world will be able to come in here more fully loaded than they are right now,” said McCague.

To put it into perspective, right now ships can come in to Jaxport carrying about 8,500 containers.

The Cape Sounio has the capacity to carry 11,000 but McCague said the numbers will continue to go up.

“Ultimately, we’ll see ships that are more like 13,000 TEUs,” said McCague.

That’s the kind of growth Vincent Cameron wants to see. He is the president of International Longshoremen's Association Local 1408.

“When you look at a ship of this size what comes to mind?” asked Lorena Inclán.

“Economic progress,” replied Cameron.

Cameron said it goes beyond job security for his members.

“This cargo, when it hits the ground, all those warehouses that you’ve been seeing around the city that’s putting people to work,” said Cameron.

Action News Jax reported two weeks ago how Jaxport and its tenant, SSA Atlantic, have agreed to partner on a $238 million expansion at Blount Island.

STORY: Jaxport signs $238.7 million international container terminal deal with SSA Marine

STORY: Jaxport CEO: Habor deepening on track to finish two years ahead of schedule

The berth improvements are expected to be completed in 21 months and once they are, Jaxport and SSA Atlantic say it’ll allow space for two large vessels to dock at the same time.

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