Florida Seaport System Plan - SeaCIP

Florida Seaport System Plan
Figure 3.7 Categorization of Florida’s Seaports
Major Cargo
Gateway Port
(Deep Draft)
Regional Cargo
Gateway Port
Major Cruise
Port
Gateway for non-Florida commodities
Gateway for strategic Florida commodities:
containers, petroleum, coal, aggregates, etc.
Very strong truck, rail, barge connectivity
Gateway for regional commodities
Special services, niche commodities
Effective truck, rail, barge connectivity
Strong auto/transit/air connectivity
Strong truck connectivity for provisioning
3.4 Competitive Position of Florida’s Seaports
In general, Florida’s seaports are highly competitive with other seaports
throughout the United States. At the state level, Florida is in the top five states
for total waterborne tonnage and containers handled. This is due to its large
consuming population and the presence of a well established and competitive
system of seaports.
As a State, Florida competes with other coastal trading states in the South
Atlantic and Gulf, from Virginia to Texas. However, many vessels call at
multiple ports within these ranges – Houston and Tampa, or Hampton Roads
and Miami, for example. Florida’s ports compete most directly with ports
between South Carolina and Alabama, a range within which most vessels will
make only a single call. Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf ports dominate the cruise
market.
Florida Department of Transportation 3-13
December 2010