The vehicle ramps at each St. Johns River Ferry terminal were originally constructed in 1948 and require maintenance year-round.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced today that JAXPORT will receive $3 million in grant funding to upgrade the St. Johns River Ferry gantry ramp systems.

The funding will be used to replace the 61-year-old manual mechanisms at each ferry terminal ramp with new hydraulic systems that can be operated remotely. The new systems will increase safety, efficiency and reliability.

For more information, please contact JAXPORT Director of Public Relations and Communications Nancy Rubin.

In December 2008, JAXPORT executives and representatives of the Hanjin Shipping Company of Seoul, Korea signed a 30-year lease agreement calling for construction of a 90-acre container facility at the Dames Point Marine Terminal in north Jacksonville. The $300 million Hanjin Container Terminal at Dames Point is expected to open for business by summer 2013 and will be a key hub operation for Hanjin’s east coast port activity.

If you have a question about contracts for the design or construction of the terminal, email Louis Naranjo, JAXPORT’s Manager of Procurement, and the answer will be posted on jaxport.com within the Hanjin contracts frequently asked questions (FAQ).

Here is the link to that FAQ page:  http://www.jaxport.com/terminalfaq

The FAQ will provide timely, concise and uniform information on contract bidding opportunities presented by the Hanjin Container Terminal development. The FAQ will be updated as additional questions are received. JAXPORT’s answers will appear at this link so that all interested parties have access to the same facts, at the same time.

JAXPORT respectfully requests that all inquiries on Hanjin-related contracts be made through this process.

If you are a member of the press or public, and you have general questions about the economic impact of the new terminal, please read more about the Hanjin Container Terminal or contact Nancy Rubin, JAXPORT’s Director of Public Relations and Communications.

If you or your company want to explore exporting a product or service, consider enrolling in “EXPORT UNIVERSITY 101: INTRODUCTION TO EXPORTING,” presented on July 28 by the Davis College of Business (Jacksonville University), U.S. Commercial Service, Florida District Export Council, Enterprise Florida and the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.

This training session, sponsored by Mercantile Bank and Suntrust, will be delivered by the U.S. Commercial Service. It is designed for new-to-export firms that would like expert advice on export basics. Attendees will receive a certificate of completion. This course is ideal for marketing and sales management and staff, export operations personnel, purchasing, logistics and anyone with a responsibility for export functions. Course goals include:

1. evaluating export readiness;
2. developing an export marketing plan;
3. understanding the basics about U.S. export regulations,
4. international logistics, and
5. how to ensure that you get paid.

The class will be held Tuesday, July 28 at the Davis College of Business at Jacksonville University (2800 University Blvd. North). Cost is $45 and covers the program, continental breakfast, lunch, coffee and cookies. Register here by 5:00 p.m., Thursday, July 23.

For more info, contact Jorge Arce at 904-232-1270 or Larry Bernaski at 904-359-9350.

Download JAXPORT Report, a one-page news bulletin sent out via email on a monthly basis.

The latest edition features port news from June, including an award given to JAXPORT’s Seaport Security Director Chuck White, an extension to Carnival’s cruise contract and a new management structure for port leadership.

If you’d like to receive JAXPORT Report via email, please send a request to Nancy.Rubin@jaxport.com.

JAXPORT Chief Commercial Officer Roy Schleicher (left) discussed Florida-Japan business ties yesterday at the 6th Annual Florida-Japan Summit held at UNF. Schleicher highlighted the opportunities presented by the 2009 opening of the TraPac Container Terminal developed by JAXPORT and Tokyo-based logistics and ocean transportation company MOL. When the new terminal achieves full capacity, it will be capable of handling up to 1 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, or containers) annually.

The Honorable Hiroshi Yamaguchi (center), Consul General of Japan in Miami, delivered the keynote address, and Dave Woodward (right), Executive Director of the SEUS/Japan Association, moderated the Summit’s business panel.