Two new 50-gauge ship-to-shore container cranes moved their first containers recently after entering service at the Jacksonville Port Authority’s Blount Island Marine Terminal, expanding cargo-handling capabilities at Florida’s largest container port.

With a lift height of 115 feet, the new cranes are some of the largest 50-gauge cranes currently available on the market. The cranes are designed to serve wider vessels and can reach up to 19 containers across a ship’s deck. Additional features include the ability to move an average of 33 containers per hour and a lift capacity of up to 65 long tons, with heavy-lift capability of up to 75 long tons for oversized, non-containerized cargo.

A third new 50-gauge crane arrived at JAXPORT in early December and is currently being commissioned at the port’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal, where it will be operational in mid-2026. This crane features a 100-foot lift height and can reach across 17 containers wide.

The three cranes were purchased as part of a multi-year, $93 million initiative to modernize JAXPORT’s crane fleet, including $53 million in state funding over the past two years for crane purchases and upgrades.

“As cargo volumes grow, it’s essential that we continue investing in the equipment needed to serve our customers efficiently,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “We appreciate our partnerships with Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and the Florida Department of Transportation in helping position JAXPORT for future growth that supports jobs and commerce across the region and state.”

The cranes feature regenerative power systems, which consume energy during container lifts and capture electricity when lowering them—enhancing energy efficiency and reducing emissions.

Located in the heart of the Southeast U.S., JAXPORT is Florida’s No. 1 container port by volume and one of the nation’s top vehicle-handling ports. JAXPORT offers fast and efficient vessel operations with a 47-foot deepwater shipping channel, two-way ship traffic, and same-day access to 98 million U.S. consumers. Cargo activity through Jacksonville’s seaport supports more than 258,800 jobs and $44 billion in annual economic impact for the region and state.