Florida Seaport System Plan - SeaCIP

Florida Seaport System Plan
Executive Summary
Florida’s Ports Provide Critical Economic and
Transportation Benefits
Florida is served by 14 publicly-owned deepwater seaports. Over 98 percent of
Florida’s population is within 50 miles of one of these 14 seaports. Florida’s
quality of life is directly impacted by these seaports as they serve as gateways for a
large majority of what Florida’s population, businesses, and visitors consume and
generate. Collectively, they move a variety of cargo such as apparel, automobiles,
cement, computer parts, fertilizer, fresh and frozen foods, lumber, and petroleum.
Some ports specialize in specific commodities while others serve a diverse market.
In addition to cargo movement, half of the ports also provide service to passengers
with single- and multi-day cruises. This ready access to water transportation has
afforded many communities the opportunity to develop industry (cargo) and tourist
(passenger) operations that otherwise would not exist. This extensive and
diversified 14 seaport system is a major driver for the State’s economy, as well as
an irreplaceable component of its transportation system, including the critical role
seaports play in national defense and deployment activities.
Economic Benefits
Research completed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in
2006 found every $1 in state funds spent for seaports results in $6.90 in
economic benefits to the State. 1
Subsequent analyses performed using the
FDOT Seaport System Planning Framework tool confirmed this level of
benefit. Further research completed by the Florida Ports Council (FPC) in 2009
found Florida’s seaport system cargo activity provides 550,000 direct and
indirect jobs throughout Florida, including 100,000 port-related jobs and
450,000 user-related jobs, amounting to $66 billion in business output and $24
billion in personal income. 2 Cruise operations generated an additional 127,000
jobs. 3
This clearly demonstrates investments in Florida’s seaports – whether by
the ports themselves, or by private sector partners, or by other public agencies,
including the State – represent a good business decision and an economic
benefit to the State as a whole.
1
Evaluate Florida’s 14 Deepwater Seaports’ Economic Performance and the Return on
Investment of State Funds, Cambridge Systematics, Inc., 2006.
2
Martin & Associates, Inc. for Florida Ports Council, 2009.
3
Cruise Lines International Association, 2009.
Florida Department of Transportation
December 2010
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