By Paul Scott Abbott, AJOT With most ports along the Gulf Coast of Florida beefing up container-handling capabilities, it is clear that leaders of Sunshine State seaports are looking to benefit from the expansion of the Panama Canal, which is on schedule for 2014 completion. The latest efforts to add to box-handling capacity are being augmented by development of facilities serving bulk, breakbulk and offshore energy sectors. Looking individually at Florida Gulf ports, starting at Tampa Bay and working northwesterly along the Florida Panhandle: Port Manatee This month’s addition of a second Gottwald mobile harbor crane at Port Manatee should give the Tampa Bay port greater on-dock lifting capacity to afford flexibility in serving existing customers plus facilitate solicitation of further container business. The unit, similar to the crane put in place at Port Manatee in early 2008, was slated to arrive at the port June 27. Meanwhile, Martin Marietta Materials Inc. is proceeding with development of a nearly mile-long conveyor system at a 20-acre aggregate yard at Port Manatee, with which the firm has inked a 20-year contract and at which a first vessel call is anticipated by September. Also, Vecenergy is looking to start construction by early 2011 on a 100-acre petroleum tank farm adjacent to the port, and the Port Dolphin offshore liquefied natural gas facility is targeted for second quarter 2012 construction start. Helping spur new development in and around Port Manatee is a tax increment financing district that offers incentives for projects in an area encompassing some 5,000 cares. Port of Tampa The Tampa Port Authority’s container terminal is continuing its incremental market-driven expansion, having recently grown to 40 acres from 25 acres. The next phase of expansion is already under way as the authority moves forward with extending container gantry crane rails and lengthening the container berthing area to 2,800 linear feet from 2,100 linear feet, as well as installing 52 additional outlets for plug-in of refrigerated containers. The terminal, on a 43-foot-deep channel, has three rail-mounted Paceco gantries plus a 100-metric ton Gottwald mobile harbor crane. The terminal, which in late 2009 saw addition of Puerto Rico service by Horizon Lines Inc., is projected to eventually encompass 160 acres and feature on-dock rail service. The Port of Tampa, Florida’s largest and most diversified seaport, also looks to benefit from improved highway connections. Construction began in March on the I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector, a three-year project that is designed to offer a swift link between the port and Interstate 4, including dedicated truck lanes and a series of connective ramps. Port of Port St. Joe On the Florida Panhandle, the Port St. Joe Port Authority is making progress on development of both barge and deep-draft facilities that are being looked to to provide an economic boost in a community that has been hurting since the closure in 1997 of the St. Joe paper mill and box plant, exacerbated by last year’s shuttering of Arizona Chemical’s Port St. Joe plant. Construction has been completed on a bulkhead offering 12-foot-draft barge berthing at a Gulf Intracoastal Waterway site, which is to gain enhanced roadway access under a contract awarded this month. Development of the port’s deepwater facility is moving through the permitting process, with plans for pursuit of private equity to support building a 90-acre cargo terminal with 35-foot depth alongside. Port of Panama City Officials at the Port of Panama City are working to enhance that Florida Panhandle port’s container trade niche. Construction has begun on the first phase of a container yard expansion plan to increase the port’s capacity for containerized cargo to 75,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units a year. The current $1.7 million project includes relocating a maintenance shop and a truck dock to create more s