Florida is home to 15 seaports that create dynamic connections for a broad assortment of freight, as well as passengers. They serve a diverse consumer market within the state (and across the country) and are champions of both international trade and domestic cargo movement. Florida is the closest connection between Latin America/Caribbean trade partners and many U.S. consumers.
Florida is connections to Asian and European trade lanes. Florida ports have historically been perceived globally as specialists of either the primary cargo group handled or specific trade lanes served. Florida seaports generate more than 680,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute $96 billion in economic value to the state through cargo and cruise activities. Florida maritime activities account for approximately 13 percent of Florida’s Gross Domestic Product while contributing $2.4 billion in state and local taxes. Cruise industry activities affect virtually every industry in the country and the state, alone generating 130,000 jobs and $5.8 billion in wages for Florida workers. Under the auspices of the Florida Ports Council, their advocacy entity, Florida’s port interests itemize and pursue comprehensive growth strategies designed to boost freight volumes statewide, such as:- Continuing to invest in port infrastructure and channel upgrades that will provide Florida with the ability to be the first inbound and last outbound port-of-call for import and export shipments.
- Creating an aggressive marketing campaign to attract the beneficial cargo owners and carriers currently importing and exporting cargo through non-Florida ports (approximately 3 million TEUs).
- Providing necessary state or local incentives to entice import distribution centers and export oriented manufacturing companies to relocate.
- Removing or modifying any undue regulatory burdens on Florida’s freight system, resulting in increased efficiency in moving trade through its seaports.
Seaports (4 most important)
Port Miami is a global gateway for trade, commerce and tourism. The Miami Harbor embraces the artificial basins, slips and channels that have been dredged along the bay front of Miami and in the bay and through the waters of Biscayne Bay to the ocean, and is located generally at latitude 25-46′ No. longitude 80-10’W. The entrance to the main channel is directly east of the City of Miami, approximately 4.5 miles. The Port is the second largest economic engine in Miami-Dade County and plays a critical role in the current and future economic development of Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida. The port has 4,915,576 cruise passengers. It is recognized as the Cargo Gateway of the Americas with 1,007,782 cargos, contributing 28 billion economic impact and supporting more than 207, 000 jobs in South Florida. In a community of 2.6 million residents from more than 120 countries speaking over 80 languages, Miami-Dade County is the Cruise Capital of the World and a global marketplace that major international companies and banks also call home. Port Miami as a sustainable port is committed to adopting policies that support sustainability and ensure earth-friendly operations. The Port only handles containerized break bulk and cargo shipments are limited to containerized and roll on/off cargo. The Port’s goal is to provide sustainable services by carefully balancing environmental, social, and economic factors.
Port Jacksonville is the second-largest port on the U.S. East coast. 24,340 people are employed in port-dependent positions – 9,667 direct , 4,573 indirect and10,100 induced jobs relying on the port, all generated by Port activity of 2.3 billion of business revenue received by firms providing direct services to cargo and vessels. The total personal income and local consumption is 1.8 billion with 51,656 average salaries for direct employee. The port generates 168.9 million of state and local taxes by activity at the marine terminal. The total economic value to the State of Florida of the marine cargo activity at the public and private marine terminals in 2013 is estimated at 26.9 billion. The cruise industry in Jacksonville has created an estimated 460 new jobs and more than $67 million in new annual economic impact for Northeast Florida. More than 60 percent of the economic impact from cruise ships comes from passengers, many of whom stay in Jacksonville before or after their cruise.
Port Tampa Bay, Florida’s one of the largest and most diversified seaport, which maximizes maritime commerce and expands the Tampa Bay and regional economies. From a wide-ranging cargo mix to its cruise passenger popularity to repair of ships, the Port of Tampa is truly among the nation’s most diverse seaports. Tampa handles almost every imaginable commodity from any corner of the world. Port Tampa Bay offers expertise in three areas of cargo activity: bulk cargo, containerized cargo, and other general cargo including project cargo, roll on/roll off and break-bulk. This diversity of operations, along with partnerships that facilitate them, holds the key to the Port of Tampa’s as an economic engine in West Central Florida and generate nearly 100,000 jobs and delivering some $15 billion in annual economic impact. The Port of Tampa is building upon its rock-solid foundation to meet the demands of global trade and the needs of a region of more than 8 million consumers. More than 30 million consumers are within an eight-hour drive. The Tampa Bay/Orlando I-4 corridor has the 10th largest economy in the U.S. with a GDP of more than $300 billion. Major industry clusters include food and beverage, citrus and juice products, furniture, general department store merchandise, steel, fertilizer, animal feed and agricultural products. Florida is the leading state for merchandise exports to Latin America and the Caribbean, responsible for 36% of all U.S. exports to the region. Asia is the top source of Florida’s merchandise imports.
Port Canaveral is truly a unique place of departure and is Florida’s fastest growing cruise port. Located just 45 miles east of Orlando, visitors can have the ultimate Florida vacation by combining the Orlando theme parks and Space Coast attractions such as Kennedy Space Center. Port Canaveral is ranked as the world’s 3rd busiest cruise port in multi-day embarkations. The port offers a cruise to the Bahamas, Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean and other tropical destinations or even a half-day gaming cruise. Port Canaveral has more recreational facilities than all other Florida Ports combined, including a new Exploration Tower and Cove harbor-side dining and retail area. Beside the cruise, Port Canaveral focuses on cargo, real estate and marinas. The Port provides 16,938 jobs; $808 million of direct, induced, and indirect wages salaries and local consumption expenditures. The port generated $2 billion in revenue for businesses activities and $74.3 million state and local taxes. A total of 3.9 million tons of cargo moved over marine facilities of Port Canaveral.
Coastal Ports FURTHER...
