QuoteATLANTA - The site of a paper mill that has gone bankrupt could provide Georgia a third ocean port, Coastal lawmakers learned Wednesday.
Camden County Development Authority Executive Director David Keating said for $12 million, the state could grab a new economic-development engine.
QuoteThe 720-acre site of the mill is on the St. Marys River, just 3 miles upstream from a shipping channel maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 48 feet deep to accommodate submarines stationed at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base and the port in Fernandina on the Florida side of the river. No bridges cross the river between the mill and the ocean.
Plus, it’s next to the St. Marys airport, has large-scale electric and natural gas service, and the CSX railroad is already on site. Interstates 95, 16 and 10 are all close.
The mill has a dock where it used to receive shipments of timber via barge, so it could begin service from shallow vessels as soon as buildings are constructed to replace the mill that has been demolished. Dredging would be required to service bigger, ocean-going ships.
full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/georgia/2012-02-15/story/old-paper-mill-site-camden-viewed-possible-third-port-georgia?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JacksonvillecomBusiness+%28Business+news+from+Jacksonville+and+the+First+Coast+-+Jacksonville.com+and+The+Florida+Times-Union%29
Congratulations to St. Marys.
Landmar.
Its a good thing former JEDC director Ron Barton sent a memo to the city council two years ago warning them of financial concerns.
2010-604
The Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier
Who wants to be a 501-c? I'm serious
Who wants to kayak and fish under the brand new no fishing signs Downtown?
I am Downtown and why you aren't.
I believe that rail line has been dormant since Gilman closed the mill years ago. Would be nice to see activity in St Marys again.
I lived on base there as a kid from 88-91, and can tell you that mill was the center of town essentially.
please stay on topic, it's getting old. I understand this is an important issue, so this is not a dig.
If the T-U article on Lake's post is right and CSX is on site or if the rail line is dormant, then how come my weekly paycheck says "St Marys Railroad, LLC"? Folks the St Marys Railroad is alive and well and in black ink. We serve 5 customers and typically run the train an average of 4 days a week. Our track may not be as long as CSX but we're just as wide!
Quote from: mbwright on February 17, 2012, 09:05:32 AM
please stay on topic, it's getting old. I understand this is an important issue, so this is not a dig.
Who is off topic?
UM?
Paper Mill property would become the new port terminal and industrial park
Railroad would serve the port
Both are critical for the plan to have legs. This might present an opportunity for a joint Florida-Georiga port effort similar to the one between Georgia and South Carolina. The Nassau River/St. Marys River/Nassau Sound are naturally deeper then the St. Johns even with the Army Corps keeping the channels open. Fernandina Beach already has a port and it is quite nice...they also have room to grow.
Actually based on transportation, Jacksonville should have grown up at the site of Fernandina Beach, and Orlando should have grown up at the site of Sanford... Odd how they missed that.
Hey Trainman, send me a PM message (top right of the page under 'messages') let's talk trains.
OCKLAWAHA
I love the idea of turning the old Durango site into a port. That would be a great economic boost and job creator for the St. Mary's Railroad, Camden County, South Georgia, and Northeast Florida.