Cargo Operations: Jacksonville, Vancouver USA
$15 Million Helicopters Move through JAXPORT
Master riggers employed by stevedoring company Portus recently offloaded four multimillion dollar helicopters at the heavy lift and specialty cargo berth at the Jacksonville Port Authority’s Blount Island Marine Terminal.
The $15 million helicopters each measure 50 feet in length and weigh 10,000 pounds.
Workers used specialty equipment to roll the helicopters off the U.S.-flagged Liberty Global Logistics ro/ro vessel Liberty Pride. Click here for a video of the operation.
The helicopters, which arrived at JAXPORT from the Middle East, are owned by a U.S. Government ally and were trucked to a manufacturing facility in the U.S. Southeast for refurbishing. Each helicopter will receive $10 million in upgrades before returning to the Middle East via JAXPORT.
The heavy lift cargo berth at Blount Island Marine Terminal offers up to 1,800 pounds per square foot of load capacity with rail capability up to 78 kips per axle for heavy cargo. Cargo clearance available for port access by rail: 20 feet high and 13 feet wide. Direct shipping services link the port with markets in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and elsewhere.
Wind Energy Cargo Makes A Comeback at Vancouver USA
The Port of Vancouver USA is once again moving some of the largest wind energy components on the market. A recent shipment of 190-foot-long blades employed the port workforce, tandem crane picks and special trucking equipment to move the equipment across the dock.
Wind energy components have historically been significant import business for the Port of Vancouver. However, as the port explains, the wind energy market has been cyclical, rising and falling as tax credits renew and expire. In 2014, the port’s wind energy trade jumped 234 percent; the following year it declined. Now 2016 is shaping up as another big year for wind energy, and the port says it’s ready for it.
Check out the port’s wind energy video.