A one-of-a-kind cargo shipment moved across JAXPORT’s newly rebuilt heavy lift cargo berth at Blount Island Marine Terminal recently.
Eight plates of curved steel that make up a massive sculpture, Passage of Time, by world-renowned American minimalist sculptor Richard Serra arrived by ship from Qatar and were unloaded by master riggers employed by JAXPORT partner, Portus.
Serra is best known for his large-scale steel sculptures which sell for millions of dollars. Portus boasts a global reputation as an industry leader for handling over-dimensional and unusual cargo.
The weather proof steel components of the sculpture are impressive in size, each weighing more 80,000 lbs, measuring up to 57 feet in length and standing more than 14 feet high. The sculpture’s final destination is in South Florida.
A recent multi-million dollar upgrade increased the capability of JAXPORT’s specialty ship’s berth dedicated to moving heavy and oversized cargo. berth The berth now ranks as one of the nation’s highest weight-bearing capacity docks and offers:
Up to 1,800 pounds per square foot of load capacity
Increased rail capability to 78 kips per axle
Highest and widest cargo clearance available for rail access
“Our diversified cargo base gives us the know-how to cater to the unique needs of heavy lift customers,” said Roy Schleicher, JAXPORT Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “With berth space easily available and accessible, cargo gets in and out quickly, without delay, saving our customers time and money.”
“When moving something this irreplaceable, trust is a critical factor,” said John Mullins, Portus Director of Customer Service and Business Development. “The cargo owner saw Jacksonville was the clear choice for this assignment. Not every port team has our level of experience and reputation and not every port terminal has the capability to handle such unique cargo.”
For more information on JAXPORT’s heavy lift capabilities, visit JAXPORT.com/heavylift.
