SeaPort Manatee explained

SeaPort Manatee
Pushpin Map:USA Florida
Country:United States
Location:Manatee County, Florida
Locode:USPME[1]
Opened:[2]
Operated:Manatee County Port Authority
Owner:Manatee County
Type:Natural/Artificial
Size:1100acres
Berths:10[3]
Draft Depth:40 ft
Employees:85
Leadershiptitle:Executive director
Leader:Carlos Buqueras
Blankdetailstitle1:Cranes
Blankdetails1:4
Cargotonnage:11 million

SeaPort Manatee is a county-owned deepwater seaport located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico at the entrance to Tampa Bay in northern Manatee County, Florida. It is one of Florida's largest deepwater seaports and also regarded as the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal.[4] [5] The port handles a variety of bulk, breakbulk, containerized, and heavy-lift project cargoes.

SeaPort Manatee generates more than $5.1 billion in annual economic impact while supporting more than 37,000 direct and indirect jobs, all without the benefit of ad-valorem taxes.[6]

History

Manatee County bought in 1965 to launch a Barge Port and Industrial Port which later became known as Port Manatee. The Florida Legislature established the Manatee County Port Authority (MCPA) which is the governing body for the port, in the same year.[2]

The first ship to dock at the port was M/V Fermland on August 7, 1970, unloading 2,000 tons of "Korean plywood". A formal dedication ceremony for the port was held on October 29, 1970[7] at 2 pm. After the opening ceremony, an open house was held that day allowing members of the general public to visit the port. This open house was held for two more days after the opening ceremony occurred.[8] In the 1970s the port was mainly involved with petroleum and phosphate.

By the 1980s the port become more diversified. Berth 11 was built and Berth 12 played a role in rebuilding the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Between 1993 and 2003, the MS Regal Empress from Regal Cruises sailed out of Port Manatee from Berth 9.[9] A 50th anniversary celebration was scheduled in 2020 but ended up being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

In February 2022, the port was rebranded as SeaPort Manatee.[11]

Imports and exports

The port handles approximately 11 million tons of cargo each year. [12]

Primary imports

Primary exports

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UNLOCODE (US) - United States of America (The) . service.unece.org . February 18, 2022.
  2. Web site: History - Port Manatee . April 18, 2018. Manatee County Port Authority.
  3. Web site: Port of Port Manatee, U.S.A. . www.findaport.com . Shipping Guides Ltd . September 23, 2020.
  4. Web site: About Us - Port Manatee. April 18, 2018. Manatee County Port Authority. https://web.archive.org/web/20061015012605/http://www.portmanatee.com/. October 15, 2006. dead.
  5. Web site: Michael . Moore Jr . January 3, 2020 . Manatee County Port Authority elects Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace as chairwoman . Sarasota Herald-Tribune . December 23, 2019 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200103205040/https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20191223/manatee-county-port-authority-elects-commissioner-priscilla-whisenant-trace-as-chairwoman . January 3, 2020 .
  6. Web site: Port Facts . 2024-05-29 . SeaPort Manatee . en-US.
  7. News: October 30, 2020. Port Manatee Celebrates 50th Anniversary. Sarasota Magazine. January 15, 2022.
  8. News: October 30, 1970. Port Dedication Scheduled Today. 11. Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Google News . January 16, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415192809/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DLEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TGYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6822%2C4604205 . Apr 15, 2024 .
  9. News: February 26, 2018. Port Manatee wants cruise ships again. FOX 13 Tampa Bay. January 15, 2021 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220115232928/https://www.fox13news.com/news/port-manatee-wants-cruise-ships-again . Jan 15, 2022 .
  10. News: October 30, 2020. Port Manatee Celebrates 50th Anniversary. Sarasota Magazine. January 15, 2022.
  11. Web site: February 18, 2022. Port Manatee Rebrands as SeaPort Manatee. Sarasota Magazine . February 17, 2022.
  12. Web site: Port Facts - Port Manatee . April 18, 2018. Manatee County Port Authority .

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