b'28American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comThe two latest additions to SeaPort Manatees harbor crane fleet lift imports from Mexico from a World Direct Shipping vessel.Floridas Gulf Coast seaports bolster ability to accommodate diverse activityBy Paul Scott Abbott, AJOTAlreadybustlingwithabroadatee County Port Authoritys SeaPort spectrumofactivity,seaportsoftheManateeisstrategicallyadvancing GulfCoastofFloridaarebolsteringinfrastructure enhancements to solid-cargo-handlinginfrastructurewhileify its position as a preferred global looking to further diversify operations. trade hub for Southwest and Central TheFloridaPanhandleportsofFlorida and beyond.Pensacola and Panama City are underThe port commissioned two more new executive leadership, while PortKonecranesGottwaldGeneration6 Tampa Bays Paul Anderson and Sea- mobileharborcranesinearly2025, PortManateesCarlosBuquerasaredoublingitsfleetofsuchliftunits, now in their 14th and 15th years atandismovingforwardwithberth their respective helms. and container yard expansions while BeginningwheretheGulfoffortifyingintermodallinks.Latest Mexico meets Tampa Bay and head- additionsincludeAgunsaManatee ing north, then westward along theTerminals50,000-square-footware-Panhandle, here is a roundup of thehouse for bulk and breakbulk cargos; verylatestatSunshineStatesea- a second on-dock hopper for handling portsalongtheGulfofAmerica,importsofroadconstructionaggre-knownuntilJanuary2025asthegatematerials;andupgradestothe Gulf of Mexico: on-site cement mill. (RE-THINK continued from page 8) in areas such as data consolidation, pat-The 12-month period ended Sept.play in procurement, including that fortern recognition, scenario analysis, and S eA p OrtM AnAtee 30, 2025, saw SeaPort Manatee postlogistics services, Koverznev argues thatperformance monitoring. By improv-Moving increasing volumes of arecordthroughputforafifthcon- it is increasingly becoming an enabler ofingtransparencyandconsistency, AI broad spectrum of crucial commodi- secutivefiscalyear,withmovesofbetterdecision-making,ratherthanaallowsprocurementteamstofocus tiesfrom tropical fruits and juices to11,855,828 tons of cargothe mostreplacement for human expertise. more on strategic negotiation, supplier forest products and fuelsthe Man- (BOLSTERcontinued on page 30) Its strongest impact is likely to berelationships, and risk management.POWERING TRADE THROUGH NORTHWEST FLORIDAL E G S E R I E X P AA C Y V C E N S I O NAs a growing regional Port, Port Panama City handles a diverse mixof Contactcontainerized,breakbulk,andbulkcargoes.Continuedinvestmentsinmodern port infrastructure have allowed Port Panama City to handle 850.767.3220Foreign Trade Zone No. 65 growingcargovolumes,whilealsopromotingglobaltradeand PORTPCFL.COMsupporting industrial development at the local, state, and regional levels.'