Port of Jacksonville

The Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT) is an international trade port on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. JAXPORT is the largest port by volume in Florida, and the 14th largest container port in the United States. It carries about 18 million short tons of cargo each year and has an annual economic impact of over $31 billion, including 138,500 jobs across the state of Florida related to cargo moving through the port. It handled 1,338,000 containers, and is the second largest handler of vehicles in the United States with 696,500 in 2019.

English sailors traded ammunition and guns to the French from Fort Caroline 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 (0.65 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 m), 38 feet (12 m) and 41 feet (12 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 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. 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.