BUSINESS

St. Johns Ferry to close for repairs at docks

David Bauerlein

A multimillion dollar replacement of aging equipment at the St. Johns River Ferry's docks will force a temporary closure of the service for several weeks later this year.

But in the long run, replacing the 61-year-old gantries will improve reliability of ferry service by reducing the need for maintenance and repairs, according to Jacksonville Port Authority officials.

The authority's board on Friday approved seeking a firm to design and construct two new gantries. The gantries raise and lower the metal platforms that vehicles cross between the ferry and the docks on the Mayport and Heckscher Drive sides of the river.

Board member Herschel Vinyard said the port authority should tell companies competing for the contract that one criteria for selecting a firm will be how fast it will do the work so riders face the minimum amount of inconvenience.

A federal grant will cover up to $3 million for the work, an amount JaxPort expects will be enough to fully pay for the project.

In another port-related matter of interest to Mayport, JaxPort Chief Executive Officer Rick Ferrin said he expects to meet with Carnival Cruise Line executives in the fall about sites, including Mayport, for a new cruise terminal.

Ferrin said he is waiting for Hanjin and the International Longshoreman's Association to wrap up their negotiations over a labor contract for Hanjin's planned terminal. Hanjin's cargo terminal would be built north of the Dames Point bridge where the current cruise terminal sits.

If Hanjin cannot reach agreement with the longshoremen's union, it can back out of the agreement it struck with JaxPort to build the terminal. In late 2009, JaxPort postponed selecting a firm to design the cargo terminal after Hanjin said a standstill in labor talks meant it would no longer spend time or money on the projects.

But both sides returned to the bargaining table.

"What we've heard repeatedly from Hanjin is they definitely want to be here," Ferrin said. "That's why I've always been optimistic about this even in the darkest moments."

david.bauerlein@jacksonville.com,

(904) 359-4581