Crowley, JAXPORT Awarded Grant to Make Terminal More Sustainable

Crowley and the Port of Jacksonville, Fla., (JAXPORT) have been awarded a federal grant to support a $14.6 million project to reduce emissions and add electric-power equipment at Crowley’s terminal.

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded the grant under the Port Infrastructure Development Program. The funding will pay 50 percent of the cost, with Crowley matching 50 percent through JAXPORT’s initiative, named JAXPORT EXPRESS.

“JAXPORT EXPRESS is a great example of the partnership we need to reach our sustainability commitments and be even more efficient in our supply chain operations and services,” said Brett Bennett, senior vice president and general manager, Crowley Logistics. “As we continue our journey to reach net-zero emissions, moving to an electric fleet and more efficient terminal equipment will help us make a major impact in the Jacksonville community, where we already utilize lower emission fuels, and be leaders in our industry. We appreciate the support from the U.S. Department of Transportation, MARAD and JAXPORT and look forward to collaborating to reach our shared goal of a cleaner, decarbonized world.”

At Crowley’s terminal, the project will add nearly two dozen zero-emissions equipment for cargo handling, including specialty yard tractors and forklifts, as well as related charging stations for Crowley’s supply chain services. The grant also supports the addition of 160 refrigerated cargo charging stations (reefer plugs) to sustainability meet current and future growth needs at the port without using diesel as fuel. These emissions reduction efforts build upon Crowley’s investments increasing the efficiency and sustainability of the Puerto Rico trade by deploying liquified natural gas (LNG) ships, four forthcoming LNG-fueled ships for the U.S.-Central America trade, and a state-of-the-art LNG bunkering facility at the terminal.

The total grant award at JAXPORT is a $23.5 million grant to enhance sustainability initiatives at the port’s Blount Island and Talleyrand marine terminals. Additional funding will support a $31.2 million purchase of new eco-friendly cargo handling equipment for the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal (JCT) at Blount Island.

“We are grateful for the support of the federal government and port partners SSA and Crowley as we work together to do our part to make the supply chain cleaner and greener for our community,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “This investment marks a significant milestone in our initiatives to build the port of the future and move cargo in the most efficient and eco-friendly way possible.”

Equipment purchased through the EXPRESS project will be Buy America-compliant, spurring further investment into the growth of America’s zero-emissions manufacturing capabilities.