Jaxport Gets $40M to Modernize Berth 32

A federal Maritime Administration grant will fund reconstruction of about 900 feet of wharf at Blount Island Marine Terminal in Jacksonville.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Manufacturing

Bold vector editorial illustration of a concrete quay edge with rust-streaked steel pilings rising from teal tidal water beside a single mooring bollard. — The Jacksonville Port Authority won a $40 million federal Maritime Administration grant to rebuild about 900 feet of Berth 32 at Blount Island Marine Terminal, after a 2010 inspection found severe corrosion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should federal money be spent upgrading local ports like Jacksonville's?

The Jacksonville Port Authority has received a $40 million federal grant to modernize Berth 32 at Blount Island Marine Terminal. The award is part of a $498 million funding round for 35 port projects across 19 states.

Why it matters

A 2010 inspection found severe corrosion that led to load restrictions on the wharves, and the reconstruction is intended to restore and expand capacity. The upgrade is meant to safely accommodate larger, deeper-draught vessels and heavier cargo loads at the Jacksonville port.

The $40 million award is one share of a $498 million federal round for 35 projects across 19 states. The Taylor Engineering contract for Berths 30-32 was approved at $1.5 million, and the works will rebuild about 900 feet of berth.

The players

Jacksonville Port Authority

The Jacksonville Port Authority, known as Jaxport, operates the port facilities at Blount Island Marine Terminal and oversees the Berth 30-35 rehabilitation program.

U.S. Maritime Administration

The U.S. Maritime Administration is a federal agency within the Department of Transportation that administers the Port Infrastructure Development Program funding port upgrades nationwide.

The details

The grant funds Phase 2C of a wharf rehabilitation programme covering Berths 30-35, reconstructing roughly 900 feet of berth and increasing Berth 32's load-bearing capacity. The work also upgrades infrastructure supporting cargo operations at the terminal.

2010: Inspection identified severe corrosion and load restrictions were imposed on the wharves.
2017: An earlier wharf rehabilitation phase was completed.
2022: The federal channel through Blount Island was deepened and another rehabilitation phase was completed.
April 2026: The Jaxport board approved a $1.5 million contract with Taylor Engineering.
October 27, 2026: The federal funding round was announced.

Industry Pattern

The award is drawn from the Port Infrastructure Development Program, a federal fund that channels grants to port terminal upgrades across the country. It places Jacksonville's Berth 32 rebuild within a broader federal push to modernize aging port wharves for larger vessels.

Shippers and businesses relying on the Jacksonville port may see improved capacity once the Berth 32 reconstruction is complete. The upgrade is designed to handle larger vessels and heavier cargo loads without the load restrictions imposed after the 2010 inspection.

The takeaway

Infrastructure that was restricted for years is being rebuilt to support larger ships and heavier cargo. For Jacksonville's port, the Berth 32 project is a concrete step toward restoring full wharf capacity.