NORTH AMERICA

MOL builds Jacksonville terminal

21 years ago

Mitsui OSK Line (MOL) is to build a US$200m container terminal at Jacksonville, which will open within two years. The 30-year lease agreement was signed in August with the Jacksonville Port Authority.

The 360,000TEU facility will be built at Dames Point where projected traffic could eventually climbed to 800,000TEUs. The hope is that the new terminal will act as a major gateway for trade between the Southern US and Asia and also between the US and fast-growing Latin American markets.

In 2004, incumbent terminals at the port handled 727,000TEUs. MOL already operates terminals in both Los Angeles and Oakland where the latter is being expanded by 100% in capacity terms.

At the greenfield Dames Point location, port authority and line will jointly fund the initial US$200m construction phase. The 640,000 sq metre terminal will encompass two 365 metre berths worked by six post-Panamax quayside cranes. The terminal should become operational by end 2007 or early 2008.