Logistics, Sea

Multi-million Dollar Helicopters Move Across JAXPORT’s Heavy Lift Dock

[ November 18, 2015   //   Gary G Burrows ]

Highly trained master riggers moved three multi-million dollar helicopters and 10 ambulances through JAXPORT’s heavy lift and project cargo berth at Blount Island Marine Terminal, one of the nation’s highest weight-bearing capacity docks.

Workers employed by stevedoring company Portus used specialty lift and lashing gear to load the helicopters one at a time aboard the U.S.-flagged Intermarine general cargo vessel Ocean Freedom. The helicopters are 55-feet in length, weigh up to 10,000 pounds each, and are worth between $35-40 million each. The ambulances were loaded onto a platform lift before being placed aboard the ship two-at-a-time.

The refurbished helicopters and new vehicles are being shipped to northern Africa through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, which promotes stability and peace through the sale of equipment to U.S. allies overseas.

The heavy lift cargo berth at JAXPORT’s 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. JAXPORT also has the highest and widest cargo clearance available for port access by rail on CSX’s national system: 20 feet high and 13 feet wide. The port offers worldwide cargo service, including direct service with Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and other key markets.