SeaPort Manatee

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.[5][6] The port handles a variety of bulk, breakbulk, containerized, and heavy-lift project cargoes.

SeaPort Manatee
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Location
CountryUnited States
LocationManatee County, Florida
Coordinates27°38′01″N 82°33′41″W
UN/LOCODEUSPME[1]
Details
OpenedAugust 7, 1970 (1970-08-07)[2]
Operated byManatee County Port Authority
Owned byManatee County
Type of harbourNatural/Artificial
Size1,100 acres (4.5 km2)
No. of berths10[3]
Draft depth40 ft[3]
Employees24,000[4]
Executive directorCarlos Buqueras
Cranes2[4]
Statistics
Annual cargo tonnage8 million
Annual revenue$2.3 billion[4]
Website
www.portmanatee.com
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History

Manatee County bought 357 acres (144 ha) 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.[2]

By the 1980s the port become more diversified. Berth 11 was built and Berth 12 played a role in rebuilding the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.[2] Between 1993 and 2003, the MS Regal Empress from Regal Cruises sailed out of Port Manatee from Berth 9.[2][9] A 50th anniversary celebration was scheduled in 2020 but ended up being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

In February 2022, the port was rebranded as SeaPort Manatee.[10]

Imports and exports

The port handles approximately 8 million tons of cargo each year.[4]

Primary imports
  • Tropical fruits and vegetables
  • Citrus juices and beverages
  • Forestry products
  • Refined petroleum products
  • Finished phosphate fertilizers
  • Non-ferrous metals
  • Cement and cement clinker
  • Steel
  • Project cargo such as power plant and bridge components, heavy machinery, and over-sized vehicles

Primary exports
  • Finished phosphate products
  • Citrus Juices
  • Construction and road building equipment
  • Used vehicles
  • LNG Heat Exchangers
  • Power Generation Units

References
  1. "UNLOCODE (US) - UNITED STATES". service.unece.org. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  2. "History - Port Manatee". Manatee County Port Authority. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  3. "Port of Port Manatee, U.S.A." www.findaport.com. Shipping Guides Ltd. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  4. "Port Facts - Port Manatee". Manatee County Port Authority. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  5. "About Us - Port Manatee". Manatee County Port Authority. Archived from the original on October 15, 2006. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  6. Moore Jr, Michael (December 23, 2019). "Manatee County Port Authority elects Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace as chairwoman". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  7. "Port Manatee Celebrates 50th Anniversary". Sarasota Magazine. October 30, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  8. "Port Dedication Scheduled Today". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. October 30, 1970. p. 11. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  9. "Port Manatee wants cruise ships again". FOX 13 Tampa Bay. February 26, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  10. "Port Manatee Rebrands as SeaPort Manatee". Sarasota Magazine. February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022.


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