USA: JAXPORT Committed to Harbor Deepening Project

JAXPORT will be part of two revamped Asian-US East Coast service rotations with vessels to begin calling within a month.

The G6 Alliance shipping lines (APL, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Nippon Yusen Kaisha and Orient Overseas Container Line) have expanded their cooperation and added JAXPORT to the new service beginning in May. One rotation to and from Jacksonville through the Suez Canal originates in Hong Kong; a second through the Panama Canal originates in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

In addition, the CKYH (Cosco, “K” Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin) will call weekly on JAXPORT beginning in mid-April. The rotation will be as follows: Ningbo, China; Shanghai; Busan, South Korea; New York; Wilmington, NC.; Savannah, GA.; Jacksonville; Busan; and back to Ningbo.

In response to the commitment of a weekly service to and from Jacksonville, JAXPORT and Hanjin Shipping Co. leadership have agreed to suspend development of a dedicated terminal and focus on the growth of volumes through the CKYH Alliance.

“After a diligent, coordinated review of our plans, we have come to the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interest and in the interest of the state and region to set aside the terminal development contract,” said JAXPORT Interim CEO Roy Schleicher. “We will now commit our combined energies to filling the ships on each of these new rotations and expediting the process for authorization and funding of the 47-foot harbor deepening project, which is of critical importance to the port and to our businesses.”

“During the recent dialogue and planning for the CKYH Alliance agreement, Hanjin’s leadership has stressed its ongoing commitment to Jacksonville,” Schleicher continued. “This decision should be seen for what it is, a prudent course of action for both Hanjin and the Jacksonville community, one that will ensure each partner maximizes the benefits of our joint operations, now and in the future.”

[mappress]

Press Release, March 22, 2013