JAXPORT CCO: “The industry is taking notice of our advantages.”

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With its strategic location, expanded shipping options and capacity, and an unparalleled commitment to customer service, the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) is quickly emerging as a port of choice for shippers moving cargo through the fast-growing Southeast U.S.

Leading the port’s cargo growth is experienced business development executive Kristen DeMarco, who has joined JAXPORT as Chief Commercial Officer. DeMarco has a wealth of industry knowledge in both shipping and logistics, previously serving in business development roles at CEVA Logistics and shipping lines owned by A.P. Moller – Maersk.

“My commercial foundation working directly with customers—combined with knowledge of the dynamics of getting a product from port A to port B and delivery to the shelf—gives me a unique perspective on what businesses are looking for and how JAXPORT can be the most efficient port for them,” DeMarco says.

DeMarco comes on board at a time of rapid growth at JAXPORT. The deepening of Jacksonville’s shipping channel to 47 feet is well underway and volumes, capacity and service options are increasing.

DeMarco says, “The additional capacity is opening a new conversation with BCOs and carriers. It’s creating visibility with customers that may have never considered JAXPORT before.”

JAXPORT is Florida’s largest container port complex and one of the nation’s busiest vehicle-handling ports. The port offers service from more than 40 ocean carriers to key markets and is a growing player in the Asia trade lane with service aboard THE Alliance, 2M and Ocean Alliance.

Deepening began construction in February 2018 and will allow the largest containerships serving the U.S. East Coast to call JAXPORT more fully loaded. The project comes on the heels of more than five years of double-digit growth in Asian container volumes.

Thanks to record-setting auto volumes, JAXPORT is also busy expanding vehicle capacity, adding more than 100 acres of processing and storage space at the port’s Dames Point Marine Terminal. The new auto facility offers direct waterside access, major interstates within close proximity and the potential for rail access in the future.

JAXPORT has emerged as a global leader in the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a clean marine fuel. The port is home to the world’s first LNG-powered containerships, and is the only U.S. East Coast port to serve vessels powered by LNG with on-dock and near-dock LNG fueling capabilities. “LNG is a sector that cannot be underestimated,” DeMarco says. “A few years from now, it’s going to be a much bigger focus in the industry.”

JAXPORT’s Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 64 covers an eight-county area in Northeast Florida, saving shippers time and money. The port’s exceptional intermodal options include on-dock rail and 40 daily train departures from three railroads, while more than 70 million consumers live within a day’s truck drive.

“From deepening and strategic planning to pursuing opportunities across all cargo types and trade lanes, we work every day to ensure that our customers have the resources they need to grow their businesses,” DeMarco says.

For a personalized look at how your business can benefit from JAXPORT’s advantages, connect with Kristen and her team at JAXPORT.com/Cargo.