FLORIDA PORTS Adopted: May 8, 2012, Ord. No. 2012-A12
This page left intentionally blank.
I. EXISTING FLORIDA SEAPORTS Not including Port Citrus, there are 14 public seaports on Florida s Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. They consist of: Port Canaveral Port Everglades Port of Fernandina Port of Fort Peirce Port of Jacksonville Port of Key West Port Manatee Port of Miami Port of Palm Beach Port Panama City Port of Pensacola Port of Port St. Joe Port of St. Petersburg Port of Tampa The profile for each of these seaports is taken from the 2010/2011 2014/2015 Five Year Plan to Achieve the Mission of Florida Seaports prepared by the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council, March 2011. A description of each of the Florida Ports is provided below. A. Port Canaveral Located in Brevard County on Central Florida s Space Coast, Port Canaveral is a major cruise port with a solid and growing cargo market. The port is conveniently located to offer cruises to a drive-to passenger market extending as far north as the Ohio Valley. The port is also well suited to provide efficient cargo service to the rapidly growing Central Florida market via a short truck haul across uncongested highways. Port Canaveral is currently home to six cruise ships from three major cruise lines (Carnival, Disney, and Royal Caribbean). Norwegian Cruise Lines has one ship which calls the port home for six months out of the year. Carnival and Royal Caribbean recently replaced existing cruise ships with new ships offering as much as 40 percent more passenger capacity. In January, 2011, Disney replaced one ship with 60 percent more passenger capacity, and has committed to a second mega ship by early 2012. To dates, the Canaveral Port Authority has invested over $200 million in six major cruise terminals designed to accommodate the world s fleet of modern ships. In late 2010, the port committed to the construction of a new mega ship terminal to expand the ever growing cruise industry. Excellent beaches, recreational and cultural amenities, shopping opportunities, and nearby Kennedy Space Center offer port-of-call cruise visitors many options to fill their day. Port Canaveral is also a growing cargo port. With the opening in 2010 of the new 2.8-million-barrel Seaport Canaveral fuel tank farm and continued development of bulk cargo facilities to serve the Central Florida market, Appendix K-1
cargo activity is expected to increase significantly in 2011. In late 2010, the port also committed to building and upgrading the cargo area on the north side of the port. Historically, the port has handled large quantities of imported cement and lumber; these cargoes are expected to rebound as the national economy and housing markets recover. The port is also planning for the potential containerized cargo via domestic marine highway or international feeder service from other ports to Central Florida distribution hubs and consumer markets. Port Canaveral is also home to more than 200 tenant businesses, encompassing light manufacturing, professional services, restaurants, retail, marina, and other port-related activities. In addition to these uses, the port provides major recreational facilities, including Jetty Park campground, public beach, and waterside parks, to serve both tourists and the local and regional community. Jetty Park is currently being upgraded, with many new facility improvements expected to be completed in 2011. B. Port Everglades A combination of cruise options and international trade makes Port Everglades an economic powerhouse for Broward County and one of the most diverse seaports in the U.S. Located in the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Dania Beach, the port is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. It is a leading container port in the Southeastern U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean, and also has dry bulk and break bulk facilities. The port is South Florida s main seaport for receiving petroleum products, including gasoline, jet fuel, and ethanol. It is also the top Florida seaport for international exports. A foreign-trade zone and available office space make Port Everglades a business center for world trade. As the home to the world s largest cruise ships Royal Caribbean International s Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas Port Everglades is expected to become the No. 1 cruise port in the world in the next few years. The first of the 5,400-passenger, 220,000-gross-ton ships, Oasis of the Seas, began year-round every Saturday from the port in December 2009; its sister-ship, Allure of the Seas, began year-round sailings every Sunday in December 2010. In addition, the port completed a 15-year agreement with Carnival Corporation that guarantees a minimum of 25.5 million passenger movement over the life of the contract with the port providing major renovation to upgrade four existing cruise terminals over the next three years. Guided by a comprehensive 20-year Master/Vision Plan, the port continues to move forward with a full slate of development projects to Appendix K-2
serve today s cruise and cargo industries, and to prepare for the future. These projects include a 41-acre containerized cargo terminal, creating a new 16.5-acre upland mangrove habitat to replace 8.7 acres of mangrove which will allow a 1,500-foot berth extension in the Southport Turning Notch and create a minimum of four additional berths, deepening the entrance channel and waterways to 50 feet, and building a near-dock intermodal container transfer facility. Port Everglades is a self-supporting enterprise fund of Broward County government and one of South Florida s strongest economic engines. The port s total financial impact amounts to approximately $14 billion in business activity, 142,000 jobs statewide, and $400 million in state and local tax revenue. In addition, the cargo and cruise activity at Port Everglades provides approximately 10,000 direct jobs in Broward County, creating more than $379 million in personal income. C. Port of Fernandina The Port of Fernandina provides terminal service to over ten pulp paper producers located throughout Florida and the Southeast. In addition, the port has expanded in providing steel export services to several steel mills in the Southeast. Fernandina also supports a number of independent container lines serving Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao, and Bermuda. The port s principal cargoes include exports of steel products, including billets, coils and rebar; machinery; forest products including Kraft linerboard, wood pulp, treated lumber and building and construction materials. Imports include wood pulp, hardboard, and building materials. The containerized commodities moving through the port include wood pulp, automobile and truck parts, steel products, plastics, beverages, frozen foods, machinery, consumer goods, and building materials. D. Port of Fort Peirce St. Lucie County is exploring its strategic options for the port. The County owns 20 acres at the port, adjacent to 67 acres owned privately. This is in addition to the 12 acres that house the privately owned Indian River Terminal. The County continues to work with private companies in an effort to develop its 20-acre Harbor Pointe, in accordance with the Port Master Plan. Over the next five years, it is hoped this can be accomplished. Appendix K-3
Private users of the port Indian River Terminal Company, Scott Groves, Inc., McCulley Marine, and other miscellaneous shippers continue to move bulk products and other cargoes at their facilities. Currently, approximately 358,000 tons of cargo passes through Indian River Terminal annually. Nearly all of this container and general cargo traffic moves into the Bahamian and Caribbean islands primarily Freeport, Grand Bahama, Prividenciales, Turks and Caicos; and Nassau and comprises mostly exports of products, materials, and supplies to support everyday life in those islands, plus supplies, equipments, and tools for development projects. Projected increases in cargo throughputs reflect the growing demands of development-related projects that serve tourist and recreation markets in the islands E. Port of Jacksonville The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), located in Northeast Florida, is one of the largest and busiest cargo ports in the South Atlantic and is also a bustling cruise port, with year-round service provided by Carnival Cruise Lines. JAXPORT was originally created by the Florida Legislature in 1963 as a special district of the City of Jacksonville. The Legislature reconstituted the Authority in 2001, splitting off the Authority s airport operations into a separate Airport Authority. Today, JAXPORT is a seaport only enterprise. The Authority has no taxing authority, instead deriving nearly all operating revenues from leases, equipment rental, and fees from private uses. JAXPORT is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors in which the Mayor of Jacksonville appoints four members and the Governor of Florida appoints three members. JAXPORT facilities include three public cargo terminals (Talleyrand, Blount Island, and Dames Point), a passenger cruise terminal, and a ferry service owned and maintained by the Jacksonville Port Authority. Other non-jaxport private terminals along the St. Johns River include cargo terminals, multiple dry and liquid bulk terminals, shipyards, and U.S. Navy and Marine Corps installations. Operating as a landlord, JAXPORT develops, manages, and markets the publicly owned facilities to promote their growth and use by private companies. JAXPORT and its maritime partners handle dry and liquid bulk, break-bulk, vehicle (roll-on/roll-off) and containerized cargo as well as over-sized and specialty cargoes. JAZPORT has 14 container cranes, on-dock refrigerated and freezer warehousing, and Foreign Trade Zone status. The port also continues to be an important military outland port for the rapid worldwide deployment of supplies for U.S. Military operations. Appendix K-4
Well-known as a leading importer of automobiles and other vehicles, the port also ranks among the top container ports in the nation and dominates trade with Puerto Rico. Port facilities serve as a southeastern hub for the intermodal movement of commodities on the world market. To move goods to market, shippers have access to three major railroads and three interstate highways. With the addition of new Asian services and the MOL/TracPac Container Terminal as Dames Point, JAXPORT is poised to become a major port of call for post-panamax trade. F. Port of Key West The Port of Key West consists of the cruise berths at Outer Mole Pier, Mallory Dock, and Pier B, as well as an off-shore anchorage area. The City also supports a domestic ferry operation at the Key West Bight Ferry Terminal. These facilities constitute one of the busiest ports-of-call in the nation, and have one of the state s strongest and most sustained passenger ferry operations. As the port is exclusively a cruise ship and ferry passenger port, with no cargo activities and minimum ship provisioning, contributions to the local and regional economy are based primarily on revenue generated directly from tariffs and other fees, as well as passenger and crew spending. The economic impact from port operations is vital to the City: Direct revenues from cruise ship tariffs and fees were close to $2.1 million in F/Y 09/10, constituting 5 percent of the City s general revenue. Passenger and crew spending for the same period is estimated as $84 per person per visit, a total of over $67 million annually. Port-related activity is estimated to create 400 direct jobs in the Key West area, and 950 total direct, indirect, and induced jobs. For a small community whose total population is approximately 25,500, these jobs represent a significant contribution to the overall economy. In addition to generating significant local economic impacts, the Port of Key West supports cruise and ferry homeporting activities all over the state. Cruise vessels calling on Key West sail from Port Canaveral, the Port of Tampa, the Port of Miami, and Port Everglades. An estimated 10 percent of all cruise passengers departing form Florida port call on Key West on their cruise itineraries. In addition, ferry passengers call on Key West from Fort Myers and Marco Island, providing an effective multimodal alternative to other transportation modes, particularly vehicular traffic. By adding diversity to itineraries from other locations throughout Appendix K-5
Florida, Key West supports passenger benefits realized on a statewide basis. G. Port Manatee Port Manatee is one of Florida s largest and fastest growing deepwater seaports, handling a variety of bulk, break-bulk, containerized, and heavylift project cargoes. Located on Tampa Bay, the port is the closest U.S. deepwater port to the Panama Canal and offers superior intermodal connectivity, competitive rates, and a prime location with nearly 4,000 acres of surrounding green space ripe for development. Port Manatee is a multi-purpose port, serving a variety of customers. Break-bulk cargoes are led by imports of perishables, forestry products, steel, aluminum, and other non-ferrous metals. Bulk commodities include citrus juices, natural gas, refined petroleum products, finished phosphate products, cement, cement clinkers, and a growing array of constructiongrade aggregates. Port Manatee has a solid plan for the future. In 2011, the port will complete the final component of a nearly $200 million 11-year expansion when it dredges its Berth 12 to a depth of 41 feet to accommodate Panamax-sized vessels. The 1,584-foot berth sits adjacent to a planned 52 acre container terminal on the port s south side aimed at attracting new cargoes expected at the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast ports with the completion of the Panama Canal Expansion in 2014. The port s new $750 million master plan calls for a proactive environmental mitigation program, which is underway for dredging and berth expansion on the port s north side, new container terminals, cranes, land acquisitions, plus road and rail enhancements. A primary focus of the master plan is attracting containerized shipping and related support industries, which would benefit from the use of the Port Manatee Development District, Port Manatee Encouragement Zone, and the proposed Port Manatee Connector Road, to Interstate 75. Stead progress is being made on all fronts. With more than eight million Floridians within a two-hour drive of the port, Port Manatee is at the epicenter of a huge and growing consumption zone. Within that region, more than 80 million tourists visit the Sunshine State s most well known theme parks and vacation getaways each year, providing matchless opportunities for clustered logistics centers in the Port Manatee Development District. Appendix K-6
H. Port of Miami The Port of Miami is among America s busiest ports and is recognized through out the world with the dual distinction of being the Cruise Capital of the World, and the Cargo Gateway of the Americas. With its South Florida location, the port is strategically positioned as a conduit for the expansion of trade and U.S. job growth. The Port of Miami is the only Florida port authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge to -50/-52 feet and is actively engaged with its partners to pursue this channel deepening in anticipation of the Panama Canal expansion being completed in 2014. The port will be directly connected to the interstate highway system via a tunnel in 2012 and will also reestablish its connection to the nation s rail network in 2012 with an on-dock intermodal rail facility. On the cargo side, approximately 7.3 million tons of diversified commodities cross the Port of Miami s docks annually. Among the largest container ports in the U.S., the Port of Miami handles cargo from more than a dozen shipping lines. These lines call on approximately 100 countries and 250 ports around the world. On the Cruise side, the port accommodated more than 4.15 million multi-day cruise passengers in 2010, making it the busiest cruise port in the world. The Port of Miami contributes over $18 billion annually to the South Florida economy and accounts for 176,000 jobs that are directly or indirectly related to port activities. One of the port s primary goals is to promote growth in both the cruise and cargo industries in Miami-Dade County and to make sure that every port user can conduct business safely, effectively, and efficiently. I. Port of Palm Beach The Port of Palm Beach is a full-service, diversified port that provides services through its private sector partners in South Florida and is responsible for facilitating economic development within Palm Beach County, its region, and the State of Florida. The port is estimated to bring approximately 2,500 jobs to its community. The approximately 150-acre port is located 80 miles north of Miami and has a 300-foot wide inlet channel, with no aerial obstructions. The port has three slips, seventeen berths, and four roll-on/roll-off ramps for 6,560 linear-feet of berthing space to accommodate vessels up to 700 feet long and 100 feet wide. The port s berthing is 20 minutes from the first sea buoy to anchorage, with operating drafts of minus 33 feet mean Appendix K-7
low water. The non-union labor force and easy access to I-95 and Florida s Turnpike allow for seamless, cost-effective cargo handling. The Port of Palm Beach is an important distribution center for commodities being shipped primarily throughout the Caribbean Basin. Operations include containerized, dry-bulk, liquid-bulk, break-bulk, rollon/roll-off, and heavy-lift/project cargoes. The port s rail system, including unique on-dock rail capabilities, serves pier-side box, hopper, and intermodal car operations 24 hours a day. The Florida East Coast Railway Company services the docks and piers through the port s industrial rail switching operations. Located on port property are six miles of trackage for intermodal transfers and handling. Additionally, since 1987, the port has provided a Foreign Trade Zone to the region, which encompasses both port and private sector sites. Essential federal agencies having oversight for international trade and passenger flow are also located on the ports maritime office complex, adjacent to which is the port s state-of-the-art cruise terminal accommodating one-day, multi-day, and port-of-call cruises. J. Port of Panama City Port Panama City provides modern seaport facilities for a variety of bulk, break-bulk, and containerized cargoes. Over the last few years, the port has been the leading U.S. port for imported copper cathodes and is the most active port for U.S. to Mexico all-water service. The port s Northwest Florida location is attractive to shippers serving North Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Facilities include six berths, 300,000 square feet of warehouse space, ten acres of paved cargo-handling area, and a 36-foot deep channel. The port also owns an off-port Intermodal Distribution Center. Port Panama City is home to two important international manufacturing plants Berg Steel Pipe and Oceaneering International. Green Circle, a Jackson County major manufacturer of wood pellets for export to Europe, is shipping its total production through Port Panama City. Several other industries throughout the region rely on services through the port. Exports include pulp, paper, steel pipe, wood pellets, textiles, resins, machinery, and project cargoes. Imports include copper, steel plate, steel coils, molasses, aggregates, furniture, apparel, and fresh produce. Appendix K-8
K. Port of Pensacola The Port of Pensacola s 50-acre facility in Northwest Florida includes eight deep-draft berths and more than 400,000 square feet of covered storage. The port offers users a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ #249), an Enterprise Zone (EZ #1702), and stevedoring and marine terminal services for all descriptions of bulk, break-bulk, and unitized freight. Capitalizing on its Gulf of Mexico access and rail proximity, the port has been successfully diversifying its cargo mix to provide new business opportunities. In addition to handling a wide variety of import/export cargoes, the port also offers available warehouse space for lease to industrial use customers that fit within the ports business profile as a landlord port. The port s cargoes include exports of frozen food, bagged food products, paper products, electric and wind power generation equipment, and offshore exploration supplies and materials. Imports include forest products, aggregate, asphalt, paper products, construction materials, cement, and both electric and wind power generation equipment. The Port of Pensacola s primary operating objectives are to maximize revenues and maintain financial stability while serving as a catalyst for the creation and retention of jobs. The port achieves these objectives by facilitating international trade, improving facilities, attracting both cargo and non-cargo activities, and planning for improvements in facilities and infrastructure. In carrying out its activities, the port balances these ideals with the sensitivities it faces as an industrial/commercial complex located in the midst of thriving downtown retail, residential, and historic areas. L. Port of Port St. Joe The Port of Port St. Joe, a once-thriving Gulf port that has been inactive for some time, has been the focus of a revitalization effort in recent years to again develop it into an employment center and a hub of economic activity and commerce. Several significant steps in this effort were realized in 2010. First, the port, having previously completed a new berth and barge basin, has constructed road access, with rail soon to follow, to its 68-acre site at the entrance to the Intercoastal Waterway on St. Joseph Bay. This renders the site shovel ready for interested shippers and tenants. Second, the port has acquired an adjacent 33-acre parcel, resulting in a total area in excess of 100 acres. The site has significant infrastructure in place and is being marketed to potential tenants. Appendix K-9
Third, the port has continued its permitting efforts for its 65-acre deepwater port site adjacent to the Ship Channel on St. Joseph Bay. This strategic site on which deep-draft cargo operations are planned will be supported by the inland 100 acres noted above (contiguous via grade separation under U.S. Highway 98), resulting in a 165-acre new port development. Finally, a 1,100-acre site proximate to the port is planned as a Green Energy Industrial Park. With a focus on renewable energy projects and tenants, the Park will generate cargo opportunities for the port. In light of these progressive steps and the overwhelming support of the local community, surrounding counties, numerous economic development organizations, and state and federal elected officials, there is well justified optimism that the revitalized Port of Port St. Joe will soon become the economic driver and job creator that has motivated the Port s Commissioners and staff these last several years. M. Port of St. Petersburg The Port of St. Petersburg, located on Tampa Bay, is exploring opportunities to create a multi-use facility that capitalizes on its unique assets within the City of St. Petersburg. These include opportunities to attract mega yachts, research and other vessels, as well as establishment of a new Research and Development Center on the eastern end of the port. N. Port of Tampa The Port of Tampa is the largest of the Florida ports, as measured by tonnage and area, and is the nation s 19 th largest port (according to American Association of Port Authority 2009 statistics). The port is also the largest economic engine in West Central Florida. A major port-ofentry for the fuel and building material used in the region and a major center for shipbuilding and repair, the port is also a popular cruise homeport, offering several cruise lines with a variety of Caribbean itineraries. Reflecting the port s traditional ties with the nearby phosphate industry, predominant bulk cargoes include phosphate and fertilizer products as well as petroleum and coal. The port is diversifying its cargo mix to take advantage of Florida s growing ties with Mexico and other countries in Latin America. In addition to the traditional liquid- and dry-bulk cargoes, the port handles many other commodities, such as imports and exports of new and used Appendix K-10
automobiles, exports of citrus pellets and scrap steel; and imports of limestone, ammonia, sulphur, cement, steel, rock, and construction materials. Tampa s significant diversification and expansion are evidenced most notably in its container trade development. Over the last few years, investments in container terminal facilities include the acquisition of three gantry cranes, lengthening the container berth and expansion of paved storage area, and new plans to develop the terminal to 160 acres, which would bring the annual terminal capacity to 750,000 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units). The rapidly growing Central Florida market is the largest in the U.S. Southeast and Gulf regions. To expand its operations and bulk capacity, the port has begun developing Port Redwing. Berthing, road, and rail improvements will be operational within the next 2 years. The port s recently unveiled Strategic Plan and Master Plan a widely collaborative effort with the port community outline the port s strategies and direction for the next 10 to 20 years (see www.tampaport.com ). Appendix K-11