Terminal operator Enstructure recently moved 4,500 tons of frozen poultry through the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) in a single breakbulk shipment.
The move was JAXPORT’s first poultry shipment via breakbulk since 2015. The cargo, which was previously shipped via container through other U.S. ports, shifted to JAXPORT to take advantage of the port’s full capabilities.
“With the high cost and low availability of containers [nationwide], the exporters needed to have another means of moving the poultry,” said Brian Hubert, President of Ambassador Services International & Southeast Cold Storage at Enstructure. “Going to the different container terminals was taking them roughly two to four weeks to get their cargo to the discharge ports. When we load, it’s there in two days. We can do it more efficiently than containers with larger volumes, making it more cost-effective for our customers.”
Skilled dockworkers at Enstructure, which operates as Seaonus Stevedoring at JAXPORT’s Talleyrand Marine Terminal, loaded the palletized chicken onto the refrigerated cargo vessel Green Guatemala en route to the Caribbean. An organized staging and loading process ensured a seamless transition for the temperature-controlled cargo.
“JAXPORT was an integral partner in making sure that cargo move was a success,” Hubert said. “JAXPORT has been extremely cooperative in supporting our operation to ensure a successful outcome for our customer.”
“Businesses are looking for ways to get around the congestion at other U.S. ports and move their freight as quickly as possible,” said JAXPORT Director of Cargo Sales Alberto Cabrera. “JAXPORT is known as one of the most diversified ports in the nation in terms of business lines. This flexibility has kept us delay-free throughout the pandemic and allowed us to serve the evolving needs of new and existing customers during this time.”
