Florida Seaport System Plan - SeaCIP

Florida Seaport System Plan
including the State – represent a good business decision and an economic
benefit to the State as a whole.
Further research completed by the Florida Ports Council (FPC) 3 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 userrelated
jobs, amounting to $66 billion in business output and $24 billion in
personal income. 4 Cruise operations generated an additional 127,000 jobs. 5
Some of the economic benefit of Florida’s seaports is in direct employment
related to the actual operations of marine terminals (cargo and cruise) and
directly related off-port activities. For example, in addition to the benefits
resulting for the homeport of cruise ships at Florida ports, the local and regional
economies also benefit from the pre- and post-cruise tourism and hotel stays.
But much of the benefit is because Florida’s ports provide efficient waterborne
transportation access to and from international and domestic U.S. markets and
suppliers, creating value for Florida’s producers and consumers, which is
reflected in greater business activity, employment, wages, and taxes. By
providing a high level of access to national and global markets, Florida’s ports
increase the State’s ability to retain, grow, and attract businesses and industries
dependent on efficient waterborne transportation.
Transportation Benefits
Florida’s ports function as part of a larger multimodal transportation network,
in which the functions of waterborne transportation are closely integrated with
highway transportation, rail transportation, and (in the case of cruise
passengers) air transportation. A multimodal transportation system allows for
the most effective and efficient movement of passengers and freight.
Because of its seaports, many commodities produced and consumed in Florida
can be moved by water instead of by surface transportation modes. That is,
materials and products that would otherwise be moved to and from Florida via
highway or rail can instead move via water. For example, fuel products can be
barged via the Gulf of Mexico, rather than via land modes, at far lower cost.
3
“The FPC is a Florida nonprofit corporation and serves as a professional association for
seaports and their management. The 14 deepwater port directors comprise the Board of
Directors with staff support located in Tallahassee. The FPC provides leadership and
information on seaport-related issues before the Legislative and Executive Branches of State
and Federal Government. Pursuant to Section 311.09(12), Florida Statues, the Florida Ports
Council provides administrative support services on matters related to the FSTED Council
and the FSTED Program.” http://www.flaports.org/fpc.htm.
4
Martin & Associates, Inc. for Florida Ports Council, 2009.
5
Cruise Lines International Association, 2009.
1-2 Florida Department of Transportation
December 2010