UN/LOCODE: USJAX📍 United States
Port of Jacksonville (UN/LOCODE USJAX)
❖ Coordinates: 30.3322°N, -81.6557°E
❖ Time Zone: America/New_York
❖ UN/LOCODE: USJAX
## About the Port
Located at **30.3322° N, 81.6557° W** on the banks of the St. John River, the **Port of Jacksonville (UN/LOCODE: USJAX)** is the largest deep‑water port in the state of Florida and the third‑largest container gateway on the U.S. East Coast. Operated by the Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA), the facility serves the **America/New_York** time zone and provides direct access to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Intracoastal Canal, and the inland rail network of the Southeast. Its natural harbor—protected by a wide estuarine channel—offers a **draft of 47 feet (14.3 m)**, permitting New‑Panamax and post‑Panamax vessels to berth year‑round. The port’s strategic location, 200 nm from the Panama Canal and within 1,600 nm of the Gulf of Mexico, makes it a key transshipment hub for containerized, break‑bulk, and bulk commodities moving between the Americas, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Key identifiers:
- **UN/LOCODE:** USJAX
- **Port Authority:** Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA)
- **Primary terminals:** JAXPORT Container Terminal, JAXPORT International Terminal, JAXPORT Roll‑On/Roll‑Off (RoRo) Facility, and the **JAXPORT Industrial Port** (bulk and project cargo).
The port’s connectivity is reinforced by **four Class I railroads** (CSX, Norfolk Southern, Florida East Coast, and the Jacksonville Terminal Railway), **three interstate highways** (I‑95, I‑295, I‑10), and proximity to the **Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)**, enabling multimodal logistics solutions for manufacturers, importers, and exporters.
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## History
### Early Development (1820‑1900)
The St. John River has been a navigation corridor since the early 19th century, supporting steamboat traffic that linked inland Florida plantations with Atlantic markets. In 1919 the **Jacksonville Port Authority** was created by the Florida Legislature to formalize the city’s waterfront development. The original **Jacksonville Port Terminal** opened in 1925, handling cotton, lumber, and phosphate—Florida’s primary export at the time.
### Expansion Era (1950‑1990)
Post‑World War II economic growth spurred a series of dredging projects that deepened the main channel to 45 feet, accommodating the advent of containerization in the 1960s. The **first container crane** was installed at the JAXPORT Container Terminal in 1977, positioning Jacksonville among the nation’s early adopters of intermodal container handling. The 1980s saw the construction of the **International Terminal** (now the main container terminal) and the **RoRo terminal**, which facilitated the burgeoning automotive import market.
### Modernization & Global Integration (1990‑Present)
A landmark **1996–1999 deep‑draft dredging** program increased the channel depth to 47 feet, aligning the port with New‑Panamax specifications. The 2000s introduced **automation technologies**, including terminal operating systems (TOS) and remote‑controlled gantry cranes, improving turnaround times. In 2014 the port completed the **“Port 2030” master plan**, emphasizing sustainability, digitalization, and capacity expansion. Recent investments include a **$150 million terminal expansion** (2021–2023) that added two new super‑post‑Panamax berths and electrified shore power for vessels, reducing emissions in line with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2023 carbon targets.
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Container Terminals
- **JAXPORT Container Terminal**: 2,300 acre site with **four deep‑water berths** (2 × 140 ft, 2 × 180 ft), two Super‑Post‑Panamax gantry cranes (40 m outreach), four Post‑Panamax RTGs, and a **10‑acre container yard** equipped with automated gate systems.
- **Yard Capacity**: Approximately **700,000 TEUs** per year, with a peak operational capacity of **2.5 million TEUs** when operating at full efficiency.
### Roll‑On/Roll‑Off (RoRo) Facility
- **Berths**: Two 250 ft berths with a **4.2 m draft**, dedicated to vehicle imports, heavy machinery, and project cargo.
- **Capacity**: Handles up to **500,000 automobiles** annually, serving major OEMs such as Ford, Nissan, and Mercedes‑Benz.
### Bulk & Project Cargo
- **JAXPORT Industrial Port**: 1,100 acre industrial complex featuring **granite quarries, cement plants, and a bulk grain terminal**. Equipped with high‑capacity conveyor belts, ship‑loaders (up to 8,000 t/h), and a **dry bulk storage capacity of 4 million metric tons**.
### Supporting Assets
- **Cold‑Storage**: 45,000 m³ of refrigerated warehousing, meeting USDA phytosanitary regulations for perishable imports.
- **Customs & Security**: Full CBP **Automated Commercial Environment (ACE)** integration, including a 24‑hour **U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Inspection Station**.
- **Sustainability**: Shore power (cold ironing) for up to 12 berth slots, a **storm‑water treatment plant** meeting EPA Phase II standards, and a **green‑belt buffer** that protects the adjacent St. John River estuary.
For detailed technical specifications, see the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville Harbor Dredging Project** documentation.
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## Economic Importance
### Regional Impact
The Port of Jacksonville directly supports **over 45,000 jobs** in logistics, transportation, and manufacturing within the Northeast Florida economic zone. Its **annual economic output** exceeds **$15 billion**, contributing roughly **3.2 %** to Florida’s total maritime revenue. The port’s multimodal connectivity attracts foreign direct investment (FDI) from automotive, aerospace, and agro‑industrial sectors, driving regional diversification beyond traditional tourism-dependent economies.
### National Significance
On a national scale, Jacksonville ranks **#3 in container volume** among U.S. Atlantic ports and **#5** for total cargo tonnage. The port’s **RoRo capabilities** make it a critical gateway for North American automotive supply chains, accounting for **approximately 12 % of all vehicle imports** to the United States. Additionally, its **bulk terminal** supplies construction materials to the Southeast’s booming infrastructure projects, including the **Florida High-Speed Rail** and **Sunshine State highway expansions**.
### Trade Facilitation
The port’s strategic location shortens **transshipment time** between the Panama Canal and East‑Coast distribution centers by an average of **18 hours** compared with Gulf‑Coast alternatives. Its integrated **digital platform** (JAXPORT’s Trade Management System) offers real‑time visibility, enabling shippers to reduce dwell time by up to **30 %** and improve supply‑chain reliability.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Primary Trade Corridors
| Direction | Principal Destinations | Typical Vessel Types |
|-----------|------------------------|----------------------|
| **North‑America** | New York, Norfolk, Savannah, Houston | Con‑SCO, Post‑Panamax, RoRo |
| **Latin America** | Panama, Cartagena (Colombia), Santos (Brazil) | Panamax, Feeder‑SCO |
| **Europe** | Rotterdam, Hamburg, Felixstowe | New‑Panamax, Post‑Panamax |
| **Caribbean** | Kingston (Jamaica), Port of Spain (Trinidad) | Feeder‑SCO, RoRo |
The port’s **intermodal links** enable cargo to move seamlessly onto the **CSX and Norfolk Southern rail networks**, reaching inland markets such as Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta within 24–48 hours.
### Major Cargo Categories
- **Containers**: Consumer electronics, apparel, machinery, and perishable foods (e.g., fresh produce from Central America).
- **Automobiles & Light Vehicles**: Passenger cars, trucks, and specialty equipment, primarily from Asian manufacturers via trans‑Pacific liner services.
- **Bulk Commodities**: Cement, limestone, gypsum, and agricultural grains (wheat, corn) sourced from the Midwest and exported to Caribbean islands.
- **Project Cargo**: Oversized industrial components for power‑generation projects, offshore oil‑rig modules, and prefabricated building sections.
### Emerging Cargo Trends
The port is actively developing **cold‑chain capabilities** to capture the growing **U.S.–Latin America fresh‑fruit trade**, targeting a **15 % increase in refrigerated container throughput** by 2028. Simultaneously, Jacksonville is positioning itself as a **renewable‑energy hub**, with plans to handle **wind‑turbine blade shipments** destined for offshore projects along the Atlantic seaboard.
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*For further reading on Jacksonville’s maritime role within the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic corridors, consult the **World Port Index** entry for USJAX and the **U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD)** statistics.*
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USJAX
Country
United States
Province / Region
Florida
Latitude
30.332184
Longitude
-81.655651
Timezone
America/New_York
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Jacksonville?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Jacksonville is USJAX.
Where is Port of Jacksonville located?
The Port of Jacksonville is located in United States, Florida. Its coordinates are 30.3322°N, -81.6557°E.
What time zone is Port of Jacksonville in?
Port of Jacksonville operates in the America/New_York time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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