IntermodeX Announces Construction of LinX Logistics Facility at the Port of Prince Rupert

Feb. 3, 2025 - IntermodeX announced the development of LinX, a cutting-edge transload and logistics facility strategically located at the Port of Prince Rupert (PRPA). Designed to support global cargo owners, ocean carriers and forwarders, LinX will leverage Prince Rupert gateway's natural advantages and IntermodeX's advanced transload and logistics capabilities along with CN's extensive rail network.

Set to launch in Q1 2027, Phase 1 will span over 30 acres and feature a 100-door facility, providing seamless transloading for both import and export cargo between North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The LinX facility will be the anchor tenant of the newly developed South Kaien Import Logistics Park (SKILP), a joint venture between PRPA and Metlakatla Development Corporation.

"We're excited to partner with IntermodeX. Their global reach and logistics experience is the cornerstone of SKILP and a springboard for future development." said Ryan Leighton, SKILP Director.

Shaun Stevenson, President & CEO, Prince Rupert Port Authority adds "It is imperative to offer customers robust logistics services including trucking, transloading, and rail as we increase our competitiveness and grow container volumes at the Port of Prince Rupert. IntermodeX brings experience, scale, and valuable expertise to our fully integrated, intermodal ecosystem."

IntermodeX will enhance supply chain resilience by connecting all points in Asia with key distribution hubs in Eastern Canada and the U.S. Midwest. Matthew May, President of IntermodeX, stated, "The Port of Prince Rupert is North America's closest gateway to Asia, making projects like LinX essential for improving supply chain efficiency and reducing disruptions. Our decision to invest in and operate this development was driven by our longstanding regional presence and strong local support, allowing us to ensure quality and efficiency."

Lauren Offenbecher, President of SSA Marine's conventional division adds, "Prince Rupert and Canada are key growth markets for our business. As ocean carriers and cargo owners look to diversify their port options, we see significant potential in Prince Rupert to support this shift and create meaningful opportunities for our clients."

About IntermodeX

IntermodeX, an SSA Marine Enterprise, is a leading provider of integrated intermodal logistics services, connecting cargo movements by container, rail, barge, and truck to global and local markets. As the only logistics provider operating in both Prince Rupert and Vancouver, IntermodeX has served clients and ports across British Columbia for over 30 years.

SOURCE IntermodeX Logistics Ltd.

JAXPORT Growth Outlook Includes Business Diversification, New Trade Lane Connectivity

Feb. 6, 2025 - During today’s State of the Port address, Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Chief Executive Officer Eric Green and Chief Commercial Officer Robert Peek discussed how the port’s business diversification, increased global connectivity, and ongoing terminal upgrades position the port for growth and success in 2025 and beyond. 

Cargo activity through Jacksonville’s seaport supported more than 228,100 jobs in Florida and $44 billion in annual economic output for the region and state in 2024, according to newly released data.

Hosted by the Propeller Club of the United States – Port of Jacksonville, State of the Port provides an update on JAXPORT initiatives and supply chain trends impacting Northeast Florida’s maritime industry to a crowd of approximately 600 transportation and logistics professionals.

“From the addition of new trade lanes to the completion of major growth projects, 2025 is shaping up to be a transformational year for JAXPORT,” said JAXPORT Chair Wendy Hamilton. “CEO Green has a clear vision for the continued growth and development of JAXPORT—strengthening the supply chain and creating an environment where the port’s customers and partners can thrive.”

As new global ocean carrier alliances begin this month, JAXPORT is maintaining and growing its container services through strategic partnerships with the world’s top ocean carriers. These new and modified service routes provide JAXPORT with access to more global markets than ever before, expanding the port’s connectivity to new and emerging markets.

“Our mission is to be an economic engine and job creator for the community,” said CEO Eric Green. “We achieve this through strategic growth across our lines of business and major initiatives to expand our capabilities across our key cargo types – containers, autos and breakbulk. Public and private investments in our terminals ensure JAXPORT continues to generate business growth benefitting our region and state.”

Significant investments to enhance JAXPORT’s cargo-handling capabilities that will be completed in 2025:

• SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal: The $72 million modernization project to expand the SSA Terminal will be completed this spring. The facility features 97 acres of newly paved asphalt and can accommodate about 650,000 TEUs annually, bringing JAXPORT’s total TEU capacity to approximately 2 million TEUs annually, nearly double its current throughput.
• New Cranes: JAXPORT is investing more than $70 million to maintain and upgrade its container crane fleet, including three new cranes that will arrive later this year. The three new Liebherr cranes will serve the Puerto Rico trade as well as international volumes.
• Southeast Toyota Distributors: Construction of a new 340,000-square-foot state-of-the-art auto processing facility at Blount Island will be completed this summer. The new facility, funded with $120 million in private investment, enables Southeast Toyota Distributors to process more vehicles annually through Jacksonville and supports more than 800 jobs.
• Auto berth upgrade: Last month, JAXPORT completed the expansion of Vehicle Berth 22 at Blount Island to accommodate larger ships calling the terminal more efficiently.

Other initiatives include:

• Increasing the air draft: JAXPORT is working with local electric provider JEA on a project to raise the overhead powerlines near Blount Island to an operational clearance of 205 feet. Increasing the air draft allows more ships to utilize Jacksonville’s 47-foot deepwater shipping channel and is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2026.
• Breakbulk: Terminal operator Enstructure will expand its current operations at the Talleyrand terminal once Southeast Toyota relocates to Blount Island. The project includes the addition of a 250,000 square foot warehouse, which will increase the port’s on-terminal covered capacity to handle non-containerized cargo such as forest products by 20 percent.
• Autos: A $54 million project to build a new vehicle berth 20 at Blount Island will be completed in 2027.

The advantages driving growth on the cargo side, anchored by Jacksonville’s location in the heart of the fast-growing Southeast U.S., is also driving demand for the port’s cruise business. Last year, Carnival marked 20 years of cruising from JAXPORT and 206,000 passengers set sail, a new port record. This fall, JAXPORT will welcome Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) Norwegian Gem, marking the first time an NCL ship has been homeported in Jacksonville.

Located in the Southeastern U.S. at the crossroads of the nation’s rail and highway network, JAXPORT is a global gateway to Florida, the nation’s third-largest state. Jacksonville is Florida’s largest container port and one of the nation’s largest ports for vehicle handling and non-containerized (breakbulk) cargo. The port offers fast and efficient vessel operations with a 47-foot deepwater shipping channel, two-way ship traffic, and same-day access to nearly 100 million U.S. consumers.

SOURCE: JAXPORT

WALLENIUS SOL and BB Logistics Create Warehouse Partnership in Kemi, Finland

Jan. 17, 2025 - WALLENIUS SOL and BB Logistics recently signed a long-term agreement to provide warehouse services in Kemi, Finland.

The contract became effective January 1.

The contract includes a 12,000 m² warehouse in the Port of Kemi, which will be operated by BB Logistics. This collaboration will enable WALLENIUS SOL to offer comprehensive warehousing solutions for its customers on the weekly liner service to Kemi.

“Through this agreement, we are securing essential warehousing capacity in Kemi, which is vital for meeting the increasing demand in the region. This capacity will support both ongoing projects and the steady flow of regular cargo in the years to come,” says Jonas Wåhlin, Chief Commercial Officer at WALLENIUS SOL.

The Port of Kemi is well connected within the WALLENIUS SOL network, linking major cargo hubs such as Travemünde, Zeebrugge, and Antwerp. Cargo arriving in containers, trailers, cassettes, or SECUs will be efficiently unloaded into the warehouse for storage and further distribution across northern Finland, Sweden and Norway.

“We take great pride in serving the logistical needs of northern Finland and Sweden through the Port of Kemi. Our strong partnership with WALLENIUS SOL enables us to swiftly address the challenges of the logistics sector,” says Kim Lindström, Managing Director of BB Logistics.

On the export side, the warehouse will serve as a key hub for the consolidation and storage of goods, ensuring efficient and smooth handling of outbound shipments.

Jonas Wåhlin adds, “The region is rapidly developing, driven by major industrial investments, particularly in green technologies. Our Enabler vessels provide a sustainable shipping solution that supports these projects and the expected growth in exports.”

Euroports Finland owns a substantial part of BB Logistics and offers services along the entire coastline from Kemi to Hamina.

SOURCE: Euroports

Port of Savannah’s Ocean Terminal Receives Four New Electric Ship-to-Shore Cranes

Jan. 27, 2025 - The Port of Savannah received four new electric ship-to-shore cranes on January 25, 2025, bringing Ocean Terminal’s fleet to eight Super Post Panamax cranes, all designed by Finland-based, Konecranes.

Once all cranes are commissioned and berth construction is completed, the eight ship-to-shore cranes at Ocean Terminal will have the capability to service two vessels simultaneously.

“The completion of this project upgrade in 2028 will enable Ocean Terminal to accommodate the largest vessels serving the U.S. East Coast,” said Ed McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer of Georgia Ports. “Our goal is to ensure customers have the future berth capacity for their larger vessels’ first port of calls with the fastest U.S. inland connectivity to compete in world markets.”

Ocean Terminal, while still open and operating, is currently in a renovation phase. The GPA board approved a $29 million exit ramp from the terminal enabling direct to local highways which will allow trucks direct highway transit to Atlanta without any traffic lights until entering Atlanta. The ramp project is 70% complete and is designed with the local community in mind to keep container trucks off local neighborhood roads.

SOURCE: Georgia Ports Authority