Fernandina Port Lands $11 Million Grant: Here’s What the Money Will Fix

The Port of Fernandina has been awarded an $11 million federal grant for dock repairs and flood control, five months after its operator outlined nearly $20 million in repairs and upgrades needed to keep the aging facility competitive.

The Maritime Administration announced the award Tuesday through its competitive Port Infrastructure Development Program. The Ocean Highway and Port Authority requested the funding, with U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody supporting the application in a June letter to the agency.

The award addresses two of the largest expenses Relay Terminals President Ted McNair presented to OHPA commissioners in May: $5.5 million for dock repairs and $5.5 million for flood mitigation, the Observer previously reported.

Relay put its overall infrastructure and equipment needs at approximately $18.5 million to $19 million. Other priorities included a replacement U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility, secondary infrastructure repairs and cargo equipment.

The federal project includes rehabilitation of the upper and lower portions of the wharf, crane rail repairs and an underground stormwater management system. Grant-funded work also includes paving, railroad crossing repairs and shoreline reinforcement using structural fill and riprap.

During the May presentation, Relay said moderate flooding routinely covered about 20% of the terminal in saltwater. Raising the site would be difficult because of existing rail infrastructure and the expense.

Relay hired engineering firm APTIM to develop a drainage, underground storage and pumping solution while pursuing federal funding.

“It wouldn't totally fix it (flooding), but it would definitely help it,” McNair said at the time.

APTIM’s dock inspection assigned the structure a “C-minus” rating, identifying cracked pilings, deteriorating deck beams and aging corrosion protection systems.

Moody’s office said the funded improvements would address flooding and structural deterioration threatening cargo handling and worker safety. Its announcement also lists deck patching, beam reinforcement, pile repairs and pumps to handle rainfall and storm surge.

Most of the money available nationally for the 2026 grant competition came from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law. The law provided $450 million for this year’s program, the last installment of a five-year, $2.25 billion commitment. Additional appropriations and recovered funds from previous awards brought the amount available for grants to nearly $498 million after administrative expenses.

Moody’s office described her role as helping secure the award. The release links to her letter supporting OHPA’s $11 million request but does not identify who prepared the application.

The grant description lists:

Fernandina Beach, FL
Port of Fernandina: Restoring, Revolutionizing, and Modernizing Port
Infrastructure Project (awarded: $11,000,000)
This project focuses on the structural rehabilitation and civil site flood mitigation at the
Port of Fernandina to restore terminal functionality and supply chain reliability. The
project will reconstruct deteriorated topside and underside wharf structures, repair crane
rails, and install an engineered underground stormwater management system to
eliminate chronic operational disruptions caused by minor rainfall and high-tide events.
Additional grant-funded components include landside paving rehabilitation, railroad
crossing repairs, and shoreline reinforcement, such as structural fill and riprap
placement.

“Florida’s ports are critical to our economy, supporting thousands of jobs and helping businesses move goods across the country and around the world. The Port of Fernandina is an important economic engine for Northeast Florida, and this $11 million investment will help protect its infrastructure, strengthen supply chain reliability and ensure the port can continue serving our region for years to come,” Moody said.

“The Port of Fernandina is a small but mighty, strategically vital, and irreplaceable asset within Northeast Florida’s economic and transportation network,” said Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04). “This federal investment will enable the Port to enhance and repair its dock infrastructure and address drainage and recurring flood vulnerabilities, improving operational reliability, worker safety, and the long-term viability of a port that our region’s businesses and supply chains depend on every day.”