JaxPort works for more ships

The Jacksonville Port Authority is hoping for more ships after the Panama Canal expands in 2014.

After the construction project at the Panama Canal, more ships will bypass the West Coast for ports on the East Coast.

"Right up front. Our position is very unique. JaxPort is the western most port. Shippers are looking for fastest alternative to get product where it needs to go and we represent that alternative," JaxPort spokeswoman Nancy Rubin said.

JaxPort is making moves to attract the billions of dollars in shipping business that will be hitting the East Coast this decade.

But JaxPort wants a deeper harbor to attract more business.

A few years ago Jacksonville's harbor was just more than 30 feet. Then a large dredging project it down to 40 feet.

Rubin said it needs to be 50 feet deep to receive as much business as possible.

"They can get here now, but they can't come fully loaded. What we want is every bit of cargo to come in fully loaded and every bit to go out when it goes out," said Rubin.

Rubin said if that happens, it represents tens of thousands of new jobs.

In a statement, Mayor Alvin Brown said that, "He's in favor of deepening the Jacksonville shipping channel to accommodate the larger ships that will be navigating the East Coast after the planned expansion of the Panama Canal."

Rubin said the port will need support from every level of government to make it happen.