Over the span of three days, stevedores with port partner Portus loaded 2,500 battle tanks and artillery pieces, as well as an assortment of other tracked and wheeled support vehicles, onto three vessels bound for Europe. More than 100 trucks and nearly 650 rail cars were utilised to get the equipment from Texas to Jacksonville. The mission, which was the largest of its kind at JAXPORT since Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, is in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a regularly scheduled nine-month-long event in Europe. The purpose of the operation is to build readiness, increase interoperability and enhance the bonds between ally and partner militaries with multinational training events in Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Romania. “Conducting such a major operation involves a lot of moving parts, but it all comes together here in Jacksonville,” said Lt. Col. Tom Patterson, Battalion Commander, 832nd Transportation Battalion. “Practice missions like this one are essential to our national readiness, ensuring we are always prepared to react quickly during a time of crisis.”

“Facilitating the efficient deployment of mission-essential equipment is a key part of JAXPORT’s role as one of the nation’s strategic seaports,” said JAXPORT Chief Executive Officer Eric Green. “The continued progress of the Jacksonville harbour deepening project, along with our other major growth initiatives, ensures JAXPORT stands ready to serve in the interest of national security today and well into the future.” 

“JAXPORT offers a number of logistical advantages for large-scale moves like this one,” said Chief Operating Officer Fred Wong. “Our fast access to interstates and rail, combined with strong partnerships with the military and our transportation service providers, ensures cargo moves seamlessly through our facilities.” The federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel to 47 ft. will provide deepwater berthing access for military and commercial use. The project is ahead of schedule, with anticipated completion in 2023, based on continued funding from all partners. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) recently awarded JAXPORT an additional $35.3 million in funding for the project. JAXPORT is one of 17 U.S. Strategic Seaports on-call to move military cargo for national defense, foreign humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and the only port in Florida with this designation. 

The cranes which are due for handover before the end of 2020 have an outreach of 73m (25 container rows), a backreach of 25m, a span of 30.48m and a lift height over rail of 51.2m which makes them amongst the largest cranes sold by Liebherr and easily able to handle the world’s largest container vessels. MSC Gate Bremerhaven is a joint venture between EUROGATE and TIL Terminal Investments Limited, a related company of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, and which operates the berths and terminal facilities exclusively for MSC vessels. Earlier this year, EUROGATE placed an order with Liebherr for 6 megamax STS Cranes for their container terminal in Hamburg. The cranes will be delivered and handed over by the summer of 2020. In 2018, Liebherr delivered six similar ultra large STS cranes to the North Sea Terminal, Bremerhaven and have received an order for an additional four cranes, due for handover next year. The cranes for MSC Gate Bremerhaven will be the latest in a long line of STS cranes delivered to the Hamburg/Bremerhaven region and will mark the 22nd and 23rd large ship to shore crane delivered since the start of 2017 when the first two of five STS cranes were delivered to HHLA Container Terminal Tollerort in Hamburg. “Recent years have seen Liebherr establish and grow our presence at a number of different ports and terminals in the North Sea.” Says Gerry Bunyan, Sales and Marketing Manager with Liebherr Container Cranes. He continues, “We are delighted to be part of our customers’ success stories as they drive business at some of Europe’s largest ports. Liebherr Container Cranes takes great pride in building long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with our customers and we look forward to building on our recent successes in the region.” 

Tuas Port represents the future of the Singapore Transhipment Hub. With 26 kilometres of deepwater berths (up to 23 metres chart datum), and capable of handling 65 million TEUs annually, Tuas Port is designed to meet and exceed the future demands of the world’s largest mega-vessels, mega-alliances, and mega-networks. To deliver new heights of efficiency, productivity, and environmental sustainability, Tuas Port incorporates innovations such as intelligent data-driven operations management systems, wharf and yard automation, full-electric automated guided vehicles, as well as smart engineering and power management platforms.To be progressively developed in four phases, Tuas Port’s first berths are scheduled to commence operations in 2021. When completed in 2040, Tuas Port is anticipated to be the world’s single largest fully automated terminal in the world. Beyond container handling capabilities, Tuas Port will also be a key nucleus and multiplier of a wider Tuas Ecosystem. Comprising synergistic industries and supply chain nodes interlinked by a seamless mesh of physical and digital connections, the Tuas Ecosystem is poised to orchestrate creative supply chain solutions to further the connectivity of Singapore’s future economy. Peter Voser, Group Chairman of PSA International, said, “Tuas is an opportunity for us to reinvigorate and reimagine. By venturing beyond the physical port into complementary logistics capabilities and integrated digital systems, PSA will take the lead in transforming the industry to better deliver holistic cargo solutions for our customers and promote greater supply chain efficiency. The integrated Tuas Ecosystem sets the stage for Singapore to not only consolidate our position as the world’s largest transhipment hub, but also reinvent ourselves as a leading global supply chain and logistics centre. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Government, our customers and business partners for their unwavering support over the years. And to our dedicated team of staff, unions and management, my heartfelt thanks to each of you for being alongside PSA as we celebrate this significant milestone in our journey thus far.” 

Earlier in the morning, PSA held a torch relay which started from its first container berth in Tanjong Pagar Terminal. Accompanied by a contingent of PSA staff, unions and management, the torch made its way through Keppel and Brani Terminals before being transported by prime mover to Pasir Panjang Terminals. From there, the torch was conveyed by a flotilla of PSA Marine tugs and harbour craft to Tuas Port. The relay route signifies the development and transformation of PSA over the years, and the passing of the torch by different PSA teams symbolises unity and continuity as the organisation evolves from generation to generation. PSA’s three city terminals at Tanjong Pagar, Keppel and Brani will move to Tuas Port by 2027. By 2040, Pasir Panjang Terminals will be consolidated at Tuas Port.