Jones Act service gets new 10-year port deal

Trailer Bridge, a Jacksonville-based carrier, and terminal operator Ports America have inked a 10-year agreement to manage stevedoring and employ terminal technology for the Jones Act barge service between Jacksonville and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Ports America assumes cargo handling duties at Trailer Bridge's Blount Island terminal at Jaxport, implementing its Dockworks terminal operating system to enhance cargo tracking and supply-chain visibility for clients.

The deal includes two optional five-year extensions, potentially extending the partnership to 20 years. Ports America will supply stevedoring labor and terminal expertise, consolidating handling functions under a single North American operator experienced in ro-ro, breakbulk, and Jones Act trades. The company will also deploy its Dockworks TOS at the Jacksonville terminal, with customer-facing visibility tools set to launch in 2027.

This investment aims to provide shippers with real-time information on trailer and container movements along the Jacksonville-San Juan route. The partnership solidifies Jacksonville's position as a key mainland gateway for freight heading to Puerto Rico, offering the port a long-term, technology-driven operating model for a major Jones Act customer.

Both parties anticipate a streamlined terminal platform to cut handoffs, boost equipment utilization, and deliver a more predictable service profile for shippers relying on the Jacksonville-San Juan corridor. In July, Zim and Mediterranean Shipping Co. initiated the first call at Jacksonville as part of a new ZCP-Amberjack container service connecting major container hubs in Asia with enhanced connections to Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.