Florida’s SeaPort Manatee will receive $9.5 million in state emergency funding to aid recovery from Hurricane Milton.
The funding comes as fuel, food and other goods begin to move through the maritime hub near Tampa Bay.
The port serving southwest and central Florida suffered an estimated $200 million in damage when Milton made landfall Oct. 9.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the funding Monday at the port.
“We want to make sure our supply chain is strong and that we get the port back to where it needs to be as soon as possible,” DeSantis said.
Warehouses, berths, the container yard, offices and security installations were battered by the hurricane, according to initial assessments.
The emergency funding is slated to include $5.5 million for emergency berth repairs and dredging in state waters, $3.5 million for immediate security needs and access control, and $500,000 to support planning activities for fortifying port infrastructure.
The port will also receive staff support from multiple state agencies, DeSantis said, as well as Florida National Guard assistance with perimeter security.
President Joe Biden on a visit to survey the storm damage Sunday was to announce $612 million for six Department of Energy projects to improve the resiliency of the state’s electric grid in areas affected by the storm.
The combined efforts of county, state and federal authorities and industry partners has Manatee County’s seaport operations “almost normal,” said Executive Director Carlos Buqueras in a release. “This additional funding from the state will really make all the difference” in returning to full operational status.
The port has 10 deep-draft berths handling container, liquid and dry bulk, breakbulk, heavy-lift, project, and general cargo. It handled 177,108 twenty-foot equivalent units in fiscal 2023.
Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
Related coverage:
Longshore union halts overtime at Port of Montreal
Georgia’s Brunswick port expands ro/ro capacity
Analysis: Biden, ILA score wins in port strike, but larger issues remain
Brokerage Compliance Symposium
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
F3 Awards Dinner
The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
F3: Future of Freight Festival
Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowThe night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register NowIndustry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now