Ports along the Florida Gulf Coast are aiming to further capitalize upon their propitious positioning close to the expanding Panama Canal, industry-rich Mexico and a Cuba that is opening to U.S. tourism and trade, as well as proximity to offshore energy activity and the Sunshine State’s own growing population base. From a deeper Port Manatee harbor and bigger Port Tampa Bay cranes to burgeoning business and a rebirth along the Florida Panhandle, the future looks bright for Florida Gulf ports. The only downer along this coast is the recent shelving of plans for development of Port Citrus, under study since 2011 for building along the 15-foot-deep Cross-Florida Barge Canal in Citrus County, about 90 miles north of Tampa. Starting near the entrance to Tampa Bay and heading north, then westward along the Florida Panhandle, here’s the latest at major ports along the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State: Port Manatee Thanks to full federal funding in the fiscal 2016 civil works budget of the required feasibility study, Port Manatee is looking to advance its efforts to deepen its harbor to 45 feet from its current 40 feet, which should help the closest U.S. deepwater port to the expanding Panama Canal fully capitalize upon that proximity. Port Manatee already is benefiting from its location across the Gulf of Mexico from Veracruz, with newly formed World Direct Shipping engaged since last fall in direct weekly service between Port Manatee and the Port of Coatzacolcos, handling cargos including refrigerated produce imports.
World Direct Shipping’s containership Falmouth calls Port Manatee in its direct weekly service to Mexico’s Port of Coatzacolcos.
World Direct Shipping’s containership Falmouth calls Port Manatee in its direct weekly service to Mexico’s Port of Coatzacolcos.
Meanwhile, Port Manatee has been busy moving heat recovery steam generators and related project cargo, imported from South Korea, headed for a nearby power plant expansion. Also, the international trade hub located in the Port Manatee Intermodal Center is drawing increasing interest from global companies, and Havana Ferry Partners has chosen Port Manatee as the departure point for soon-to-be-introduced service to Cuba. Port Tampa Bay Port Tampa Bay, Florida’s longtime No. 1 tonnage port, expects to have two new post-Panamax cranes in place by early 2016, joining two somewhat smaller gantry units already in use at its container terminal, operated by Ports America. A new expressway link to the Interstate highway system and recently introduced on-dock intermodal rail service also are enhancing the port’s connective abilities to reach Central Florida’s populous I-4 corridor and markets beyond. Most recently, port-administered Foreign-Trade Zone No. 79 and the Free Zones Association of Panama inked a memorandum of understanding to work together in expanding international commerce. In addition, true to its bulk cargo roots, Port Tampa Bay has signed a pact with Gulf Coast Bulk Equipment Inc. for the handling of prilled sulphur imports via the port’s Port Redwing property. And the port’s $54 million petroleum terminal complex expansion has been recognized with an award from the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors trade association. Port of Port St. Joe Renaissance of the Port of Port St. Joe, in the works since the 1998 closing of the city’s paper mill and box plant, appears to be coming to fruition, with state and federal permits for dredging and material deposit approved in February. Plans call for 12 months of work after dredging begins toward bringing the channel to its authorized 37-foot depth. AN Railway LLC, formerly the Apalachicola Northern Railroad, is embarking on a $5 million rehabilitation to improve the short-line link to the CSX Corp. main line. The port is on the Gulf Coast Canal, which connects to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, and is 67 state highway miles south of Interstate 10. The Port of Port St. Joe, which offers more than 8,000 acres of greenfield and previous industrial sites, already has some business lined up, with port development partner The St. Joe Co. having inked agreements with wood pellet firms Enova Energy Group and Green Circle Bio Energy Inc. Port Panama City About 40 miles farther northwest along the Florida Panhandle, Port Panama City is enjoying record cargo activity, with a 20 percent year-over-year tonnage increase buoyed by significant gains in imports of steel and copper, as well as exports of kraft linerboard.
Steel coils are a major import commodity spurring record volumes at Port Panama City, near the center of the Florida Panhandle.
Steel coils are a major import commodity spurring record volumes at Port Panama City, near the center of the Florida Panhandle.
Steel plate imports are projected to exceed 1 million tons over the coming 18-month period as longtime Port Panama City tenant Berg Steel Pipe Corp has heralded two major orders. Another port tenant, Oceaneering Multiflex, has announced a $100 million order to produce 32 miles of electrohydraulic steel tube umbilicals, in support of an oil and gas project off the coast of West Africa. At the same time, the Panama City Port Authority is proceeding with its plans for construction of 100,000 square feet of additional warehouse space at its fast-growing intermodal distribution center, where it also is building a $2.5 million multipurpose bulk transfer facility. Late last year, the port added its third and largest mobile harbor crane. Port of Pensacola At the far western end of the Florida Panhandle, the Port of Pensacola has diversified from its historic presence as a gateway for exports of regional lumber and is now a growing hub of activity supporting the offshore oil and gas industry, including via the deepwater subsea base of Offshore Inland Marine & Oilfield Services Inc. Ask leadership of the Port of Pensacola what the biggest news of late at the city-governed port is and you’ll learn that in May the Mariya Moran, a 121-foot articulated tug and barge ocean tugboat, was christened at the port. The vessel was built by Pensacola-based Patti Marine Enterprises Inc. for Moran Towing Corp.