Port of Jacksonville
Encyclopedia
The Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT) is an international trade seaport
on the St. Johns River
in Jacksonville
, Florida
. The newest port in the United States, it carries over 21 million tons of cargo each year and has an annual impact of over $19 billion, including 65,000 jobs. It serves the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, and is the second largest handler of vehicles in the United States with 656,805 in fiscal year 2008. Jaxport was the 36th largest port in the country and third in Florida
, behind the Port of Tampa
and Port Everglades
in 2008.
for food and a boat in 1565, the first international commerce recorded in the New World. Because of this, the port uses the phrase, Jacksonville: America's First Port. After Cowford was renamed Jacksonville, a petition dated June 15, 1822, was sent to Secretary of State
John Quincy Adams
, asking him to designate the city as a port of entry
for the United States.
Jacksonville's St. Johns River
is one of the best natural seaports in the Southeast, and shipping has always been an important component of the local economy. Before Florida became a state in 1845, cotton and timber were traded and shipped at the port.
The Great Fire of 1901
destroyed the port facilities as well as most of the city. Docks and wharfs were among the first items rebuilt by businesses. In 1907, the federal government helped pay for main channel in the river to be dredged to a depth of 24 feet (7.3 m). The city of Jacksonville began to exert control over the 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) port at Talleyrand in 1912 and a $1.5 million bond referendum passed in 1913 to pay for construction of municipal docking facilities.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performed the harbor dredging in 1916, 1952, 1978 and 2003, when the channel was deepened to 30 feet (9.1 m), 34 feet (10.4 m), 38 feet (11.6 m) and 41 feet (12.5 m), respectively.
The United States Navy
had no base at the Port of Jacksonville until shortly before World War II
when two facilities were constructed. Today, the Naval Station Mayport
, Naval Air Station Jacksonville
, Blount Island Command
(Marines
) and nearby Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
form the third largest military presence in the United States.
Following the war, little or no money was spent on the public docks at the port, and they deteriorated until many were unusable. Because of this, Jacksonville missed out on much of the shipping boom of the Post-World War II economic expansion
.
In addition to the military bases at the port, more than 20 maritime facilities in Jacksonville's harbor are privately owned and operated, including drydocks and petroleum terminals.
The authority, also known as JAXPORT, is the independent government agency that owns, operates and controls much of Jacksonville’s Seaport System, including (but not limited to) the following: docks and wharfs, cranes, a passenger cruise terminal,warehouses, paved open storage areas, and road connections to the public highway system. JAXPORT maintains these facilities and manages their overall use. Private companies pay lease and rental fees to JAXPORT in order to operate from the seaport. This revenue funds the day-to-day operations so that public tax dollars are not required. JAXPORT does not operate or manage private boat marinas, water taxis or bridges.
The port has always taken security seriously; after the September 11 attacks, thwarting terrorism became the focus. Security guards are on constant patrol, supported by the Seaport Security Unit, made up of 11 officers and 2 sergeants on contract from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
. Department of Homeland Security also has a presence with United States Customs Service
and United States Border Patrol
agents. The port has three areas of activity: cargo, cruises and ferry service.
and is one of the largest vehicle import/export centers in the United States.
The United States Marine Corps
uses 1100 acres (4.5 km²) on the east side of the island for its Maritime Prepositioning Force
operations, and the public Blount Island Marine Terminal, which is JAXPORT's largest container facility, occupies 754 acres (3.1 km²) on the west half of the island. Blount Island can also process Ro/Ro, heavy lift
, breakbulk and liquid bulk cargoes on 6600 feet (2,011.7 m) of deep water (41 feet (12.5 m)) berths.
, break bulk cargo
and containerized cargo
. With six container cranes, on-dock rail service and a 160000 sq ft (14,864.5 m²) transit shed, the terminal can process frozen, refrigerated or ambient cargo on 4780 feet (1,456.9 m) of deepwater (38 feet (11.6 m)) berthing space. A warehouse of 500000 square feet (46,451.5 m²) is available to store many types of cargoes.
. Space is available to store bulk aggregate material. Hanjin Shipping
has reserved 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) for their container terminal, which is projected to open during 2013.
The JAXPORT "temporary" cruise facility is located at the northwest corner of Dames Point. There is a plan to remove this structure and construct a permanent facility elsewhere when economic conditions improve.
. The cruise facility contains 63000 sq ft (5,852.9 m²); the baggage handling area is 28000 sq ft (2,601.3 m²); and a passenger embarkation section has 15000 sq ft (1,393.5 m²). Vehicle access to the site is via Hecksher Drive and there is paved parking for over 800 cars.
Celebrity Cruises
began regular service from Jacksonville on October 27, 2003 on the MV Zenith. Celebrity discontinued their service from Jacksonville when the Zenith was retired from their fleet in 2007.
The ship Carnival Miracle
was christened at the Port of Jacksonville on February 27, 2004, beginning Jacksonville service by Carnival Cruise Lines
. The Miracle was replaced by Carnival Fascination, which was still based in Jacksonville as of May, 2010.
Cruises visit the Bahamas, Mexico
, Key West
and the Caribbean
.
Five cruise ships (including the Carnival Miracle) were chartered to serve as floating hotels during the week preceding Super Bowl XXXIX
in February, 2005. Four of the vessels docked at JAXPORT terminals, and they provided over 3,500 rooms plus restaurants and night clubs for fans.
The Jacksonville Port Authority
had plans to relocate the cruise terminal. In 2008, an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) parcel was purchased in the small fishing village of Mayport as the site of a permanent, $60 million facility. The economic crisis delayed the project, and opposition from local residents was vehement; a lawsuit seeking an injunction was filed against the JPA. In May, 2010, the authority announced that they were starting over and reviewing all possible locations for the cruise terminal.
crosses the St. Johns River
, connecting Mayport
to Fort George Island
. The 0.9 miles (1.4 km) crossing is part of Florida State Road A1A
and departs every half hour. The ferry has been operating since 1948 and is the last active ferry in Florida.
The Florida Department of Transportation
, which had always operated the service, had the Mayport Ferry line item budget vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist
for 2007-2008. Rather than terminate the service, the City of Jacksonville assumed responsibility, but lost over $1 million in one year.
Mayor John Peyton
announced that there was no money available in the next budget.
The Jacksonville Port Authority took over operation of the ferry in 2007 and raised the standard fare from $3.25 to $5.00, but still lost half a million dollars each year. However, they use port revenue, not tax money, to underwrite the operation.
After taking over, the JPA decided to cut costs and sell the Blackbeard, the backup vessel built in 1956. That meant that whenever the Jean Ribault had problems, ferry service would be suspended. On February 5, 2009 the ferry was put into dry dock for routine maintenance, but hull corrosion required an extra week of repairs, and there was no service for a month.
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
on the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
in Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The newest port in the United States, it carries over 21 million tons of cargo each year and has an annual impact of over $19 billion, including 65,000 jobs. It serves the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, and is the second largest handler of vehicles in the United States with 656,805 in fiscal year 2008. Jaxport was the 36th largest port in the country and third in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, behind the Port of Tampa
Port of Tampa
The Port of Tampa is located on the western coast or Suncoast of Florida, approximately 25 miles from open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The boundaries of the Port district includes parts of Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough River.The port of Tampa is the...
and Port Everglades
Port Everglades
Port Everglades is a port in Broward County, Florida. As one of South Florida's leading economic powerhouses, Port Everglades is the gateway for international trade and cruise vacations. Already one of the three busiest cruise ports worldwide, Port Everglades is also one of Florida's leading...
in 2008.
History
English sailors traded ammunition and guns to the French from Fort CarolineFort Caroline
Fort Caroline was the first French colony in the present-day United States. Established in what is now Jacksonville, Florida, on June 22, 1564, under the leadership of René Goulaine de Laudonnière, it was intended as a refuge for the Huguenots. It lasted one year before being obliterated by the...
for food and a boat in 1565, the first international commerce recorded in the New World. Because of this, the port uses the phrase, Jacksonville: America's First Port. After Cowford was renamed Jacksonville, a petition dated June 15, 1822, was sent to Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
, asking him to designate the city as a port of entry
Port of entry
In general, a port of entry is a place where one may lawfully enter a country. It typically has a staff of people who check passports and visas and inspect luggage to assure that contraband is not imported. International airports are usually ports of entry, as are road and rail crossings on a...
for the United States.
Jacksonville's St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
is one of the best natural seaports in the Southeast, and shipping has always been an important component of the local economy. Before Florida became a state in 1845, cotton and timber were traded and shipped at the port.
The Great Fire of 1901
Great Fire of 1901
The Great Fire of 1901 in Jacksonville, Florida was one of the worst disasters in Florida history and the largest urban fire in the Southeast. It was similar in scale and destruction to the 1871 Great Chicago Fire.-Origin:...
destroyed the port facilities as well as most of the city. Docks and wharfs were among the first items rebuilt by businesses. In 1907, the federal government helped pay for main channel in the river to be dredged to a depth of 24 feet (7.3 m). The city of Jacksonville began to exert control over the 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) port at Talleyrand in 1912 and a $1.5 million bond referendum passed in 1913 to pay for construction of municipal docking facilities.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers performed the harbor dredging in 1916, 1952, 1978 and 2003, when the channel was deepened to 30 feet (9.1 m), 34 feet (10.4 m), 38 feet (11.6 m) and 41 feet (12.5 m), respectively.
The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
had no base at the Port of Jacksonville until shortly before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when two facilities were constructed. Today, the Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
, Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
Naval Air Station Jacksonville or NAS Jacksonville is a military airport located four miles south of the central business district of Jacksonville...
, Blount Island Command
Blount Island Command
Blount Island Command is responsible for the United States Marine Corps' Maritime Prepositioning Ships Maintenance Cycle operations and oversight of the Marine Corps Prepositioning Program-Norway .-History:...
(Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
) and nearby Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy located adjacent to the town of St. Marys in Camden County, Georgia, in southeastern Georgia, and not far from Jacksonville, Florida. The Submarine Base is the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's home port for U.S. Navy Fleet ballistic missile...
form the third largest military presence in the United States.
Following the war, little or no money was spent on the public docks at the port, and they deteriorated until many were unusable. Because of this, Jacksonville missed out on much of the shipping boom of the Post-World War II economic expansion
Post-World War II economic expansion
The post–World War II economic expansion, also known as the postwar economic boom, the long boom, and the Golden Age of Capitalism, was a period of economic prosperity in the mid 20th century, which occurred mainly in western countries, followed the end of World War II in 1945, and lasted until the...
.
In addition to the military bases at the port, more than 20 maritime facilities in Jacksonville's harbor are privately owned and operated, including drydocks and petroleum terminals.
Port Authority
The Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA) was created in 1963 by a special act of the Florida Legislature.The authority, also known as JAXPORT, is the independent government agency that owns, operates and controls much of Jacksonville’s Seaport System, including (but not limited to) the following: docks and wharfs, cranes, a passenger cruise terminal,warehouses, paved open storage areas, and road connections to the public highway system. JAXPORT maintains these facilities and manages their overall use. Private companies pay lease and rental fees to JAXPORT in order to operate from the seaport. This revenue funds the day-to-day operations so that public tax dollars are not required. JAXPORT does not operate or manage private boat marinas, water taxis or bridges.
The port has always taken security seriously; after the September 11 attacks, thwarting terrorism became the focus. Security guards are on constant patrol, supported by the Seaport Security Unit, made up of 11 officers and 2 sergeants on contract from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is a joint city-county law enforcement agency, which has primary responsibility for law enforcement, investigation, and corrections within the consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida, United States...
. Department of Homeland Security also has a presence with United States Customs Service
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
and United States Border Patrol
United States Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection , a component of the Department of Homeland Security . It is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to...
agents. The port has three areas of activity: cargo, cruises and ferry service.
Blount Island
Blount Island lies 9 nautical miles (16.7 km) from the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and is one of the largest vehicle import/export centers in the United States.
The United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
uses 1100 acres (4.5 km²) on the east side of the island for its Maritime Prepositioning Force
Maritime Prepositioning ship
The 31 Maritime Prepositioning Ships are part of the United States Military Sealift Command's Prepositioning Program. They are strategically positioned around the globe to support the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Defense Logistics Agency...
operations, and the public Blount Island Marine Terminal, which is JAXPORT's largest container facility, occupies 754 acres (3.1 km²) on the west half of the island. Blount Island can also process Ro/Ro, heavy lift
Heavy lift
- Definition :The transportation, handling and installation of heavy items which are indivisible, and of weights generally accepted to be in the range of 1 ton to over 1000 tons and of widths/heights of more than 100 meters that are too large to fit into normal containers or onto conventional...
, breakbulk and liquid bulk cargoes on 6600 feet (2,011.7 m) of deep water (41 feet (12.5 m)) berths.
Tallyrand
The oldest marine facility at JAXPORT is the Tallyrand Marine Terminal, located 21 nautical miles (38.9 km) from the Atlantic. The 173 acre (0.70010678 km²) facility handles automobiles (import), liquid bulk commoditiesBulk cargo
Bulk cargo is commodity cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities. This cargo is usually dropped or poured, with a spout or shovel bucket, as a liquid or as a mass of relatively small solids , into a bulk carrier ship's hold, railroad car, or tanker truck/trailer/semi-trailer body...
, break bulk cargo
Break bulk cargo
In shipping, break bulk cargo or general cargo is a term that covers a great variety of goods that must be loaded individually, and not in intermodal containers nor in bulk as with oil or grain. Ships that carry this sort of cargo are often called general cargo ships...
and containerized cargo
Containerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
. With six container cranes, on-dock rail service and a 160000 sq ft (14,864.5 m²) transit shed, the terminal can process frozen, refrigerated or ambient cargo on 4780 feet (1,456.9 m) of deepwater (38 feet (11.6 m)) berthing space. A warehouse of 500000 square feet (46,451.5 m²) is available to store many types of cargoes.
Dames Point
The newest marine facility at JAXPORT is the nearly 600 acres (2.4 km²) Dames Point Marine Terminal. Situated one mile (1.6 km) upstream from Blount Island on the main shipping channel, Dames Point presently has only one tenant: the 158 acre (0.63940388 km²) TraPac Container Terminal used by Mitsui O.S.K. LinesMitsui O.S.K. Lines
is a Japanese transport company headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo. The company's main area of operations is international shipping. Its alligator logo can be seen on containers in ports around the world....
. Space is available to store bulk aggregate material. Hanjin Shipping
Hanjin Shipping
Hanjin Shipping, Global Shipping & Logistics CompanyHanjin Shipping is Korea's largest and one of the world’s top ten container carriers that operates some 60 liner and tramper services around the globe transporting over 100 million tons of cargo annually...
has reserved 90 acres (364,217.4 m²) for their container terminal, which is projected to open during 2013.
The JAXPORT "temporary" cruise facility is located at the northwest corner of Dames Point. There is a plan to remove this structure and construct a permanent facility elsewhere when economic conditions improve.
Cruises
A "temporary" JAXPORT Cruise Terminal was constructed in six months during 2003 near the Dames Point BridgeDames Point Bridge
The Dames Point Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida on State Road 9A. Construction began in 1985 and it was completed in 1989. The main span is 1300 feet, and is 175 feet high...
. The cruise facility contains 63000 sq ft (5,852.9 m²); the baggage handling area is 28000 sq ft (2,601.3 m²); and a passenger embarkation section has 15000 sq ft (1,393.5 m²). Vehicle access to the site is via Hecksher Drive and there is paved parking for over 800 cars.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line founded in 1988 by the Greek Chandris Group. In 1997, Celebrity Cruises Ltd. merged with Royal Caribbean International to become Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which operates Celebrity, Royal Caribbean International, Azamara Club Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises and CDF...
began regular service from Jacksonville on October 27, 2003 on the MV Zenith. Celebrity discontinued their service from Jacksonville when the Zenith was retired from their fleet in 2007.
The ship Carnival Miracle
Carnival Miracle
Carnival Miracle is a Spirit class cruise ship owned by Carnival Corporation & PLC and operated by Carnival Cruise Lines. She offers Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the winter months with ports of call in Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize, and Cozumel, Mexico...
was christened at the Port of Jacksonville on February 27, 2004, beginning Jacksonville service by Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Doral, Florida, a suburb of Miami in the United States. Originally an independent company founded in 1972 by Ted Arison, the company is now one of eleven cruise ship brands owned and operated by Carnival Corporation & plc...
. The Miracle was replaced by Carnival Fascination, which was still based in Jacksonville as of May, 2010.
Cruises visit the Bahamas, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Key West
Key West
Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida on the North American continent at the southernmost tip of the Florida Keys. Key West is home to the southernmost point in the Continental United States; the island is about from Cuba....
and the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
Five cruise ships (including the Carnival Miracle) were chartered to serve as floating hotels during the week preceding Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
in February, 2005. Four of the vessels docked at JAXPORT terminals, and they provided over 3,500 rooms plus restaurants and night clubs for fans.
The Jacksonville Port Authority
Jacksonville Port Authority
The Jacksonville Port Authority also known by its brand name, JAXPORT, is the independent government agency in Jacksonville, Florida that owns and operates much of the seaport system at the Port of Jacksonville.-History:...
had plans to relocate the cruise terminal. In 2008, an 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) parcel was purchased in the small fishing village of Mayport as the site of a permanent, $60 million facility. The economic crisis delayed the project, and opposition from local residents was vehement; a lawsuit seeking an injunction was filed against the JPA. In May, 2010, the authority announced that they were starting over and reviewing all possible locations for the cruise terminal.
Ferry service
The Mayport FerryMayport Ferry
The Saint Johns River Ferry, also known as the Mayport Ferry, is an auto ferry between Mayport and Fort George Island, two areas within Jacksonville, Florida. The 0.9 mile voyage crosses the Saint Johns River about 2.5 miles inland of the river's mouth and travels in an east-west direction for...
crosses the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
, connecting Mayport
Naval Station Mayport
Naval Station Mayport is a major United States Navy base in Jacksonville, Florida. It contains a military airfield with one asphalt paved runway measuring 8,001 x 200 ft. ....
to Fort George Island
Fort George Island Cultural State Park
Fort George Island State Cultural Site is a Florida State Park located on Fort George Island, about three miles south of Little Talbot Island State Park on SR A1A, and near the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, in Jacksonville, Florida. It is the highest point along the Atlantic coast...
. The 0.9 miles (1.4 km) crossing is part of Florida State Road A1A
Florida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
and departs every half hour. The ferry has been operating since 1948 and is the last active ferry in Florida.
The Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
, which had always operated the service, had the Mayport Ferry line item budget vetoed by Governor Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
for 2007-2008. Rather than terminate the service, the City of Jacksonville assumed responsibility, but lost over $1 million in one year.
Mayor John Peyton
John Peyton
John Peyton may refer to:*John Peyton, Baron Peyton of Yeovil, , British politician who served as Minister for Transport*John Peyton John Peyton may refer to:*John Peyton, Baron Peyton of Yeovil, (1919–2006), British politician who served as Minister for Transport*John Peyton John Peyton may refer...
announced that there was no money available in the next budget.
The Jacksonville Port Authority took over operation of the ferry in 2007 and raised the standard fare from $3.25 to $5.00, but still lost half a million dollars each year. However, they use port revenue, not tax money, to underwrite the operation.
After taking over, the JPA decided to cut costs and sell the Blackbeard, the backup vessel built in 1956. That meant that whenever the Jean Ribault had problems, ferry service would be suspended. On February 5, 2009 the ferry was put into dry dock for routine maintenance, but hull corrosion required an extra week of repairs, and there was no service for a month.