Of Ports and Pip-Squeeks, Ocklawaha's Take...

[Ocklawaha]

Port Manatee
Port Manatee is the closest U.S. deepwater seaport to the Panama Canal, providing shippers with speedy access to Pacific Rim markets and their expanding transportation needs.     Port Manatee is Fresh Del Monte Produce’s second largest U.S. port facility and is the Southeast’s leading forestry product import facility.

Port Manatee is among Florida’s largest deepwater seaports. It is Fresh Del Monte Produce’s second largest U.S. port facility and is the Southeast’s leading forestry product import facility.     Port Manatee is Fresh Del Monte Produce’s second largest U.S. port facility and is the Southeast’s leading forestry product import facility.

First Vessel In Port: M/V Fermland, 576 feet-long, delivered 2,000 tons of Korean plywood to VanPly, Inc. on Aug. 7, 1970 (84 days before the port's dedication). Longest Vessel in Port: M/V Chandos, 849 feet-long, delivered 246,387 barrels of Rumania oil to Florida Power & Light in June 1986. Widest Vessel in Port: M/V Vicki I, 139 feet-wide, delivered 400,495 barrels of no. 6 oil for Florida Power & Light  on June 5, 1998.

    * Fiscal year 2006 Tonnage: 9.3 million
    * Approximate Number of Full-time Port Manatee Employees: 84
    * Estimated Number of On-Port Employees: 1,100
    * Number of Manatee County Jobs Supported by Port Manatee: 22,484*
    * Port Manatee's Total Annual Economic Impact on Manatee County: $2.3 Billion*

* Economic Impact Analysis of Port Manatee, Economics Research Associates, Table II-1, April 2003

      Linear Feet of Dedicated Dock Space:     6,702
      Total Acreage:     1,100
      Estimated Acreage Available for Development:     500
      Miles of Port-Owned Railroad Track:     8 miles
      Total Square Feet of Warehouse Space:     937,000
      Square Feet of Chill Space:     202,000
      Square Feet of Frozen Space:     30,000
      Container Lot Size:     20 Acres
      Reefer Plugs:     168
      Port Manatee Harbor Channel Length:     2.9 miles
      Port Manatee Harbor Channel and Harbor Depth:     40'+ 2' MLW
      Port Manatee Harbor Channel Width:     400'
      Turning Basin Length:     1,300'

The flow of traffic heading into Port Manatee is now a lot easier thanks to the opening of the new $2.5 million state-of-the-art Access Control Center. Located at the port's north entrance, the 8,100-square-foot building is equipped with customized features to streamline surveillance, visitor screenings and identification badge authorization. The center's design, featuring multiple drive-through lanes, an intercom system and pneumatic tubes for transferring files promotes efficiency as security demands on U.S. seaports increase.
   
The port’s new Access Control Center is a $2.5 million state-of-the-art facility currently under construction at the port’s north entrance.

==================================================================================

Sorry but I'm still not impressed with Port Manatee. If they deepen it to 100 feet, and give out free cookies along with endless container parking, they will continue to be small potatoes. REASON? One railroad (CSX), One Shortline (PM), One small rail yard (limited switching services + automated rock terminal), otherwise freight will get forwarded to Jacksonville, Tampa, or the new "Super Center in Winter Haven, to be sorted. One Freeway (maybe), and it sounds like another Rockport for Bone Valley. For a factory or warehouse operation that needs choices, the nearest "choice" would be Jacksonville or Port Everglades. Industrial Land Costs? Watch this go sky-high as the Mid/South Florida $$ overtakes their development. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Port Everglades

Maintaining A World-Class Seaport
For three-quarters of a century, Port Everglades has been a vital contributor to the economic success of South Florida and remains a dynamic business force with annual operating revenues exceeding $105 million this year and total waterborne commerce topping 27 million tons. In 2005, Port Everglades experienced:

    * 5,901 total ship calls
    * Container cargo revenue of more than $24 million
    * Cruise revenue of $30 million
    * 5 million tons of container cargo and
    * 3.8 million cruise passengers

Conveniently situated near the Atlantic Ocean shipping lanes, the Florida East Coast railway, Florida's highway system, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the beautiful beaches of Greater Fort Lauderdale and Hollywood, Port Everglades remains one of the nation's top seaports with an internationally renowned reputation. Nearly 20 cruise lines and 35 cargo shipping lines conduct business at Port Everglades. Indeed, Port Everglades is known as the "world's finest cruise port" providing guests with a wide array of cruise vacation options. The Port is also South Florida's primary bulk cargo depot, a major petroleum storage and distribution hub and a favorite U.S. Navy liberty port.

A critical component for those in the import/export business, the Port's Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ #25) expects the value of goods passing through this year to exceed the $400 million mark. Companies operating within FTZ #25 enjoy improved cash flow, lower tariff rates and taxes, reduced insurance costs, upgraded quality control and no custom clearance delays.

With a long and interesting history in the Fort Lauderdale area, Port Everglades, originally known as Lake Mabel or Bay Mabel Harbor, was officially established as a deep-water harbor in 1927 by the Florida State Legislature and dedicated in 1928. The Port's jurisdiction now encompasses a total of 2,190 acres (887 hectares) with world-class cruise, cargo and petroleum facilities including 11 cruise terminals, 356,800 square feet (33,148 square meters) of warehouse space, 32 deep-water berths (more than 25,000 lineal feet/7,600 meters) and 13 privately owned petroleum terminals.

In Port Everglades you get two railroads (FEC-CSX), 1 shortline (PE), 2 small rail yards (featuring limited switching services and Warehousing), a close International Airport and a Two Interstate Freeways...Industrial Land Cost, (What land?) if you find some you better bring lots of Daddy's money!


==================================================================================
THE PORT OF JACKSONVILLE...Aka: JAXPORT



Blount Island Marine Terminal

Located just nine nautical miles from the Atlantic Ocean, the Blount Island Marine Terminal has 5,280 feet of berthing space on 41 feet of deepwater. Blount Island has an additional 1,350 feet of berthing space on 38 feet of water.

This 754-acre terminal is JAXPORT's largest container facility - handling 80 percent of the nearly 700,000 TEUs moved annually through JAXPORT facilities. The terminal dedicates more than 150 acres to container storage, and 240,000 square feet of dockside transit shed to house commodities such as stainless steel, liner board, wood pulp and other cargoes in need of warehousing.

Blount Island also is one of the largest vehicle import-export centers on the East Coast, and the terminal handles recreational boats, tractors, wood pulp, forest products and a variety of general cargoes. The entire terminal is covered under JAXPORT's Foreign Trade Zone No. 64 license and can be activated for qualified users.

To help speed both ships and cargo on their way, JAXPORT deploys nine cranes on the island, including eight container cranes. The efficient movement of cargo is facilitated by the terminal's on-dock rail served directly by CSX Corporation.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dames Point Marine Terminal



The Dames Point Marine Terminal is JAXPORT's newest marine facility. The terminal fronts on the harbor's 41-foot deep channel.

Located on more than 585 acres of land owned by JAXPORT, this terminal is only 12 miles from the open sea.
Besides servicing bulk cargoes on 22 acres, JAXPORT and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd., (MOL), a Tokyo-based logistics and ocean transportation company, are funding construction of a 158-acre container-handling facility, which will include two 1,200-foot berths, six Post-Panamax container cranes, and other infrastructure necessary to accommodate MOL’s operations. Additional phases of the project could expand MOL’s container facility to more than 200 acres, all on JAXPORT-owned property.

One mile northwest of the Dames Point Marine Terminal, the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal offers service to cruise ships calling Jacksonville

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TraPac Container Terminal
At the site of the new TraPac Container Terminal, W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company is currently constructing two 1,200-foot berths, dredging alongside the new terminal and paving the container storage area.

This 158-acre facility will be used by a Tokyo-based shipping line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), and its terminal operating partner, TraPac, to load and unload container ships sailing to and from ports in Asia. MOL plans to initially move these containers, full of consumer goods, on and off the terminal by truck.

Construction firm The Tower Group has been selected to manage the construction of 11 buildings at the new terminal, including an administration building, maintenance and repair facilities, a U.S. Customs examination station, entrance and exit structures and labor facilities. The Tower Group will also pave the adjacent 17 acres around the buildings and construct TraPac Way, the facility's entrance from New Berlin Road. Construction on this second phase of the project is expected to begin this fall.

The TraPac Container Terminal is being constructed between two existing JAXPORT facilities: the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal just off Heckscher Drive and JAXPORT's existing cargo terminal just west of the Dames Point Bridge. The facility is scheduled to open for container ship service in late 2008.

Meanwhile, JAXPORT and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) are funding the design of road improvements at State Road 9-A/Heckscher Drive and Hecksher Drive/New Berlin Road, which are needed to accommodate projected increases in vehicle traffic when the new facility opens.

This facility will create more than 1,600 new direct jobs in Jacksonville and thousands of additional jobs throughout Northeast Florida.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Talleyrand Marine Terminal



The Talleyrand Marine Terminal is located 21 miles from the Atlantic Ocean on the St. Johns River. This 173-acre terminal has 38 feet of water along its docks. Talleyrand handles South American and Caribbean containerized cargoes, breakbulk commodities such as steel and paper, imported automobiles, frozen and chilled goods and liquid bulk commodities.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Jacksonville,you get three major railroads (CSX-NS-FEC), 5 shortlines (JAXPORT-TALLEYRAND TERMINAL RR-FIRST COAST RR, ST JOHNS RIVER TERMINAL-PHOSPHATE TERMINAL RR), 8 Major Rail yards (FEC-Bowden, NS-Simpson, CSX-Intermodal-Export-Moncrief-West Jax-Baldwin-Busch, FCRR-Fernandina, TTRR-Municipal Dock Yard, JP-Blount Island, featuring full service 24/7/365, warehousing, storage, staging, plus freight car repair and construction, diesel shops, Trailer-Train-Acorn and Trinity.  A close International Airport + a underused JPA "SUPER AIRPORT" at Cecil, THREE Interstate Freeways (and two more...Maybe's IE: the Kansas City-Jax corridor highway, and the outer belt which would become I-210). Did I mention that we still build ships here too? We do! Ease of entry? MAYPORT and JAXPORT are ranked as the NUMBER ONE port-o-call or home port in the Nation according to the USN. Industrial Land Costs, VERY CHEAP by national standards.

==================================================================================

Clay County Port - Green Cove Springs



SHIPPING? After viewing the historic photo, imagine that this little port is coming back strong!
The Yacht Center is located on a three mile stretch of the St. Johns River. The yacht facility offers fresh water storage, hurricane protection and a full megayacht service center.eynolds Park is a 1700 acre complex located on the St. Johns River in Green Cove Springs, Florida. It is just 25 miles south of Jacksonville.
Dockage: 1-30 slips
Marina Basin: 14 Foot Depth, 500 Foot Basin Width
Slip Sizes: Up to 350 feet in Length, 65 feet in Height
REPAIRS
In-house facilities include full megayacht services by Coastal Yachting Services, Inc.


==================================================================================

Nassau Terminals Port of Fernandina



Florida's First Port
The Northernmost Port in the State of Florida
A natural deep water seaport
Port Authority: Ocean Highway and Port Authority, Nassau County
Operator: Nassau Terminals provides terminal handling and stevedoring services.
Berths: 1,200 linear feet of marginal wharf with 36 ft. MLW. All berths can handle container or conventional vessels.
Stack Area: Marshaling area adjoining berths accommodate 2,800 TEU including 50 electrical hook-ups for refrigerated containers.
Chassis Depot: Conveniently located chassis depot for parking up to 300 chassis.
Warehousing: Clean, modern warehouse with 180,000 sq. ft. of storage space for forest products. Nassau Terminals also operates a 50,000 sq. ft. container freight station.
Equipment: Two Hitachi container cranes, one rail mounted whirly crane, container handling equipment, and a wide range of lift-trucks for handling all types of cargo.
Transportation: Nassau Terminals is located 14 miles from I-95 and I-10. The port is also served daily by the First Coast railroad.
Entrance Channel: The main entrance channel is currently 46 MLW. Access to the pier is 36 ft. MLW with 36 ft. alongside. There is a 6 ft. rise and fall on the tide. 1,000 ft. turning basin.
Pilotage Services: 24 hour navigation is provided by Cumberland Pilots Association (904) 261-3158. Capt. Bill Kavanaugh, Chief Pilot.
Tug Services: Provided by Moran Towing, (912) 232-8103.
Other Services: The Port of Fernandina is a full-service port with all U.S. Government services, fresh water, local agents and supplies.

==================================================================================

Further? For those that like it deep and or like it small, Fernandina Beach has quietly ran up numbers that make it one of the Nations major ports as well! Even in the un-Civil War of Yankee Aggression, the Port there was widely considered one of the nations BEST natural deep water harbors. It didn't make the deep water list because it's our quiet secret! BTW, while we are talking about quiet ports, don't count out little brother Green Cove Springs, where the NAVY once housed one of the great fleets of WWII, also with it's own railroad, airport and miles of space...Any Palatka? just take down the Shands and raise the center to new heights and they already have a healthy shipbuilding industry.


Railroads have made us the KING of Florida's future shipping.

Port depth? As long as Aircraft Carriers enter the St. Johns and turn in the basin, as long as local means St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Kings Bay/St. Marys or Jacksonville we are on top of the World. True, Talleyrand-Hecksher Drive and a Port Terminal Railroad should be connected end to end, but other then a few improvements, we are still THE GATEWAY CITY!


Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

That Port Everglades image is the Port of Miami. 

Anyway, what's your take on Florida's other major port facilities like the Port of Tampa or our nearby competitors....Savannah, Charleston and Norfolk?

[thelakelander]

Also, how do their expansion plans compare with ours?

[Ocklawaha]

Lake, thanks for rattling my cage, I fixed the photo problem, I had it stuck in with my Everglades stuff I guess the word expansion or something caught my mind...(SPACE, THE LAST FRONTIER...)

If you'd like, I'll check in on Brunswick, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk etc... and do a similar piece. Certainly I take the side of a Jacksonville booster, but hopefully not a blind one. Tampa, suffers from rail abandonments that leave it with a single mainline to the World via CSX. Southern Ry, forerunner of NS tried to sue to gain entry there as a condition of the ACL/SAL merger that formed SCL, forerunner of CSX. Sadly the ICC didn't allow the concessions and as soon as the ink was dry, SCL then CSX continued to abandon everything they could in the State. The entire Jacksonville-St. Petersburg Mainline of the old ACL...gone. The West Coast Mainline of the ACL, Thomasville to Tampa, GONE, The West Coast Mainilne of the SAL, Waldo to Tampa, GONE. You know of the many lines around Lakeland, Sebring, Croom, Sanford, Haines City... Ungodly mess.

So to make it short, Tampa suffers from being stuck on a dead end of an almost "second thought" railroad line. It also suffers from having it's historic center on the point South of downtown and not unlike Talleyrand, trapped. Rockport, was a brilliant move to help bust out of town on the East Side of the Bay. The Bay itself? Way too shallow. Remember the Skyway bridge disaster? Tiny channel + sharp turns + bridge + wind and storm = death and destruction. Tampa has the tonnage because it loads rock, but as a big wheel, they have a lot of water over a very shallow bed of shellfish. Shellfish, perhaps THAT is the future for Tampa!

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

Sure.  I'd love to see your opinion on our more direct East Coast competitors (Savannah, Norfolk and Charleston).

[vicupstate]

http://www.greenvillenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071109/NEWS/71109052


Apparently the new "joint' port between GA and SC is taking another step toward reality.