SeaPort Manatee
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox port
| name = SeaPort Manatee
| image =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = USA Florida
| country = United States
| location = Manatee County, Florida
| coordinates = {{Coord|27.6336443|-82.5614858|format=dms|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| opened = {{start date|1970|08|07}}{{cite web|url=http://www.portmanatee.com/about-us/history/|accessdate=April 18, 2018|title=History - Port Manatee |publisher=Manatee County Port Authority}}
| operated = Manatee County Port Authority
| owner = Manatee County
| type = Natural/Artificial
| sizewater =
| sizeland =
| size = {{convert|1100|acre|km2}}
| wharfs =
| piers =
| employees = 85
| leadershiptitle = Executive director
| leader = Carlos Buqueras
| blankdetailstitle1 = Cranes
| blankdetails1 = 7
| arrivals =
| cargotonnage = 11 million
| containervolume =
| cargovalue =
| profit =
| website = {{URL|www.seaportmanatee.com}}
}}
{{Florida ports}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.portmanatee.com/|accessdate=April 18, 2018|title=About Us - Port Manatee|publisher=Manatee County Port Authority|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015012605/http://www.portmanatee.com/|archive-date=October 15, 2006|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |first1=Michael |last1=Moore Jr |accessdate=January 3, 2020 |title=Manatee County Port Authority elects Commissioner Priscilla Whisenant Trace as chairwoman |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20191223/manatee-county-port-authority-elects-commissioner-priscilla-whisenant-trace-as-chairwoman |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |date=December 23, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103205040/https://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20191223/manatee-county-port-authority-elects-commissioner-priscilla-whisenant-trace-as-chairwoman |archive-date=January 3, 2020 }} The port handles a variety of bulk, breakbulk, containerized, and heavy-lift project cargoes.
SeaPort Manatee generates nearly $7.3 billion in annual economic impact while supporting more than 42,000 direct and indirect jobs, all without the benefit of ad-valorem taxes.{{Cite web |title=Port Facts |url=https://www.seaportmanatee.com/about-us/port-facts/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=SeaPort Manatee |language=en-US}}
History
Manatee County bought {{convert|357|acres}} 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.
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{{Cite news|date=October 30, 2020|title=Port Manatee Celebrates 50th Anniversary|work=Sarasota Magazine|url=https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2020/10/port-manatee-celebrates-50th-anniversary|access-date=January 15, 2022}} 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.{{Cite news|date=October 30, 1970|title=Port Dedication Scheduled Today|page=11|work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DLEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TGYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6822%2C4604205 |via=Google News |access-date=January 16, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415192809/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=DLEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TGYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6822%2C4604205 |archive-date= Apr 15, 2024 }} In the 1970s the port was mainly involved with petroleum and phosphate.
By the 1980s the port became more diversified. Berth 11 was built and Berth 12 played a role in rebuilding the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. During the winters of 1989 and 1990 a cruise ship named Southern Elegance sailed out of Port Manatee.{{Cite news |last=Verrer |first=Richard |date=September 23, 1991 |title=All Ahead Backward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PichAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA73&dq=southern+elegance+port+manatee&article_id=5747,4691063&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiik-rU-cWKAxWVSTABHXB0BJAQ6AF6BAgMEAI#v=onepage&q=southern%20elegance%20port%20manatee&f=false |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |pages=10 & 14 |via=Google News Archive}} Southern Elegance would sail out of Panama City during the summer.{{Cite news |date=October 21, 1989 |title=Southern Elegance Back In Town |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3vYcAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA85&dq=southern+elegance+port+manatee&article_id=3801,744412&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjA55-E-cWKAxXsQjABHQ8OIXMQ6AF6BAgEEAI#v=onepage&q=southern%20elegance%20port%20manatee&f=false |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |via=Google News Archive}} Southern Elegance pulled out citing competition from other cruise ships in Tampa Bay. Another cruise ship sailed out of Port Manatee the MS Regal Empress from Regal Cruises between 1993 and 2003 from Berth 9.{{Cite news|date=February 26, 2018|title=Port Manatee wants cruise ships again|work=FOX 13 Tampa Bay|url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/port-manatee-wants-cruise-ships-again|access-date=January 15, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220115232928/https://www.fox13news.com/news/port-manatee-wants-cruise-ships-again |archive-date= Jan 15, 2022 }} The Regal Empress stopped sailing out of Port Manatee because it was seized by US Federal Marshalls on April 18, 2003 after a repair bill was not paid and the cruise line filed for bankruptcy.{{Cite news |last=Braga |first=Michael |date=April 29, 2003 |title=Regal Cruises goes under |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2003/04/29/regal-cruises-goes-under/28748156007/ |access-date=December 26, 2024 |work=Sarasota Herald Tribune |type=Digital}}
A 50th anniversary celebration was scheduled in 2020 but ended up being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news|date=October 30, 2020|title=Port Manatee Celebrates 50th Anniversary|work=Sarasota Magazine|url=https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2020/10/port-manatee-celebrates-50th-anniversary|access-date=January 15, 2022}}
In February 2022, the port was rebranded as SeaPort Manatee.{{cite web|access-date=February 18, 2022|title=Port Manatee Rebrands as SeaPort Manatee|url=https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2022/02/port-manatee-rebrands-as-seaport-manatee|website=Sarasota Magazine |date=February 17, 2022}}
Imports and exports
The port handles approximately 11 million tons of cargo each year. {{cite web|url=http://www.portmanatee.com/about-us/port-facts/|accessdate=April 18, 2018|title=Port Facts - Port Manatee |publisher=Manatee County Port Authority |date=}}
=Primary imports=
- Tropical fruits and vegetables
- Citrus juices and beverages
- Appliances
- Forestry products
- Refined petroleum products
- Finished phosphate fertilizers
- Aluminum
- 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
- Wood pulp
- Kraft paper and paper board
- Scrap iron and steel
- LNG Heat Exchangers
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|www.portmanatee.com}}
Category:County government agencies in Florida
Category:Ports and harbors of the Florida Gulf coast
Category:Geography of Manatee County, Florida
Category:1970 establishments in Florida
Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Manatee County, Florida
{{port-stub}}