nchored at the doorstep of international commerce, Port Manatee is the region's most important transportation hub. It is one of Florida's fastest growing deepwater seaports. It shuttles 9.4 million tons of important commodities to eager markets and consumers. The port adds more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact and supports more than 22,000 jobs in Manatee County. ort Manatee celebrated its 35th anniversary Oct. 29, 2005. The following tells the story of the port's humble beginnings and promising future.

radenton Realtor® Bob Kessler looked south from the Piney Point ferry landing in the early 1960s and envisioned a thriving deepwater seaport to promote trade and commerce, provide a steady tax base for the community and create new jobs in Manatee County.

roundbreaking photo left to right: Ken Dierks, Unknown, Bud Fortson, Port Authority Chairman Dan McClure, Unknown, Bob Quinn, Unknown, George Tomberline, and County Engineer John Benson.

he M/V Fermland arrived Aug. 7, 1970 - 84 days before Dan P. McClure (then port authority chairman) led the port's dedication ceremony on Oct. 29, 1970.

n the 1970s, Port Manatee primarily served the petroleum and phosphate industries. Petroleum tank farms and fertilizer warehouses dotted the landscape where little else existed.

y the 1980s, familiar features began to shape Port Manatee's architectural profile. Refined petroleum and finished phosphates were king with scrap metal, waste paper and plywood gaining a foothold.

erth 11 (construction shown here) was built on the south side of the port creating opportunities for new tenants at Port Manatee.

s the '80s ended, a depressed phosphate industry forced the cargo diversification issue at Port Manatee. By then, Del Monte had found a new home at Berth 11, while Berth 12 provided key services for the reconstruction of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This photo shows the Skyway Bridge pieces ready to be transported by barge across Tampa Bay.

ort tenants and customers grew during the 1990s. Warehouse 6 was built for Del Monte, which began calling on Port Manatee in 1989. The port was awarded Foreign Trade Zone No. 169, providing another tool to serve the maritime community.

avid McDonald was named port director in 1992 and facing an uphill battle to regain the port's financial footing. McDonald successfully gained the financial backing of Manatee County government to support a refinancing plan. The county agreed to assign its borrowing strength to the plan, providing good interest rates in the bond market and credibility with underwriters. In 1993, the conversion of $21.9 million dollars in bonded debt yielded an economic gain of $1.77 million. Warehouse 2 was then converted to a chill facility allowing Tropicana to begin shipping juice through Port Manatee until its departure in 2002

new cruise terminal stood alone at Berth 9 by 1993. Regal Cruises sailed from Port Manatee until 2003.

he port authority purchased 412 acres in 1997, providing the area to expand Berth 12 to 1,584 feet and Berth 5 to 1,200 feet. The dredging of these new areas required extensive environmental mitigation, including relocating and transplanting sea grass into adjacent waters. It also required public support. A Port Awareness Week in October 1997, aimed at educating the community about the importance of port expansion, helped earn the support of the community and ultimately the unanimous approval of Florida's governor and Cabinet.

oday, the Manatee County Port Authority is investing the port revenues into new facilities and infrastructure for current and prospective customers with a sound growth plan and vision. Port Manatee has invested more than $119 million to improve its already superior docks and warehouses. In 2007, Phase One of the port's ambitious $125 million expansion project will be nearing completion.

ey components of the expansion include one-half mile of new deepwater berthing and modern docks. New navigational safety features include a 1,300-foot diameter turning basin and improved turning configuration where the port's channel intersects the main Tampa Bay Shipping Channel.

he port is the Southeast United States leading forestry distribution terminal with one million square feet of warehouse space finished or under design/construction.

t is also Fresh Del Monte's second largest U.S. port facility. The Port receives nearly 100 ships for Del Monte each year with two-way cargo movements.

 

ort Manatee Directors
1968 - 1974 Joel Wilcox
1974 - 1982 J.E. "Sonny" Jaudon
1982 - 1992 Claude E. McGavic
1992 - present David L. McDonald PPM®