Port Manatee's E-Newsletter · April 30, 2012
Manatee County Port Authority Approves $13
Million Berth 12 Extension And Container Yard
Construction
Inside This Issue
Manatee County Port Authority Approves
$13 Million Berth 12 Extension And
Container Yard Construction
Governor Signs Bill To
Boost Florida Seaports
U.S. Free Trade
Agreements Update
Executive Director
Connects With Customers
And Community
State College of Florida
Offers New Maritime Degree
National Maritime Day
Wreath Laying Ceremony
May 22
Calendar
Port Manatee approved a contract with American Bridge Company for a 584-foot
extension of Berth 12 and a 10-acre container yard.
The Manatee County Port Authority approved a $13 million contract April 19 with
American Bridge Company for a 584-foot extension of Berth 12 and a 10-acre
container yard, finishing a port expansion project originating in 1997.
The project is expected to be complete by mid-2013, well in advance of the ongoing expansion of the Panama Canal - now expected to be operational in 2015.
When finished, Berth 12 will be 1,584 feet long with a 40-foot draft and be capable
of handling Panamax-sized ships arriving at Port Manatee's first dedicated
container facility. This phase of the project complements dredging completed in
October 2011.
"The Manatee County Port Authority's vision for Port Manatee is being realized in
dramatic fashion with this project," observed Port Manatee Executive Director
Carlos Buqueras. "Years of planning and execution will result in hundreds of new
construction jobs and hundreds more of full-time on-port employment
opportunities related to the container business."
American Bridge was selected from 11 contractors, ranging from the winning low
bid of $13,075,487 to a high bid of $15,510,000. After receiving authorization to
proceed, American Bridge expects to complete construction in June 2013.
CH2M Hill will provide construction-phase engineering services, assuring that the
project is built to design specifications.
Port Manatee purchased 412 acres of land for the project in 1997, providing the
first waterside expansion opportunity outside its original footprint since opening in
1970. The 1,100 acre Tampa Bay port has since grown to become the Sunshine
State's fourth-largest, in terms of tons, and is responsible for an annual economic
State College of Florida Offers
New Maritime Degree
State College of Florida is offering a new
degree, the Bachelor of Applied Science in
International Business and Trade (IBT).
The degree provides students in Manatee
and Sarasota counties with the
knowledge, skills and experience
necessary for successful careers leading,
supervising and managing in a global
business environment, with an optional
concentration in Maritime Management.
The Maritime Management concentration
will prepare individuals to fill jobs
necessary for the operation of Florida's 15
impact of $2.3 billion and supports directly or indirectly 24,000 Florida jobs.
The Florida International Gateway (a nearly 3,900 acre greenfield warehouse and
distribution development opportunity) is immediately adjacent to Port Manatee,
which is served directly by the CSX rail system and Interstates 275, I-75 and
nearby I-4.
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Governor Signs Bills
To Boost Florida Seaports
Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 1998 (SB
1998) - the Transportation Appropriations Conforming
Bill - into law April 20 establishing new initiatives and
allocating new funds for Florida's 15 deepwater
seaports.
Furthering his pledge to give Florida's seaports a
competitive edge over other Southeastern and Gulf of
Mexico ports, the new law increases funding in several
ways and improves processes that have previously
impeded growth.
"By increasing minimum funding levels and providing
new sources of funding for strategic seaport projects,
the governor and the legislature demonstrated their
commitment to growing Florida's economy and
Florida Governor
creating jobs," stated Doug Wheeler, president of the
Rick Scott
Florida Ports Council. "International trade is the best
opportunity for enhancing Florida's economy and
Florida's ports are the gateway to trade partners all
over the globe."
On April 20, the governor also signed the 2012/2013 Budget (HB 5001) and the
2012 Transportation Legislation (HB 599) into law. Together with the
Transportation Appropriations Conforming Bill (SB 1998), the laws accomplish the
following for Florida seaports:
 Increases minimum funding for the Florida Seaport Transportation
Economic Development (FSTED) program from $8 million to $15 million
(SB 1998/HB 599)
 Creates the Strategic Port Investment Initiative with a minimum of $35
million. This new program will be administered by the Florida Department
of Transportation (FDOT) in cooperation with Florida seaports. (SB
1998/HB 599)
 Provides $135 million for strategic transportation projects in the FDOT
Work Program and the FSTED Program. (HB 5001)
 Authorizes $10 million in bonds beginning in 2013 for seaport projects in
the FDOT Work Program (SB 1998/HB 599)
 Creates an expedited hearing process for environmental resource permits
(SB 1998/HB 599).
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U.S. Free Trade
Agreements Update
deepwater seaports spanning the largest
state coastline in the continental United
States, supporting one of the most robust
water business and tourism industries in
the country.
For more information about the degree
and its requirements, contact David
Auxier, director Workforce Solutions at
auxierd@scf.edu.
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National Maritime Day Wreath
Laying Ceremony May 22
In honor of National Maritime Day, the
Port Manatee Propeller Club is hosting a
wreath laying ceremony at the port
Tuesday, May 22 at 10 a.m. Port
employees, tenants, users, customers,
propeller club members and members of
the public are invited to attend. For
security reasons, please RSVP to Port
Manatee Propeller Club President Jill
VanderPol at 941-722-6621.
The United States Congress created
National Maritime Day in 1933 to
recognize the sacrifices made by domestic
seafarers and the U.S. Merchant Marines.
May 22 is set aside each year to
commemorate these sacrifices. Over the
years, this date has evolved to include a
day of education and public awareness for
the public to better understand the
importance of safe, secure and efficient
international trade and the roles played
by the nation's ports.
The Propeller Club is also hosting the
Seventh Annual Port Manatee Propeller
Club James R. Waters Memorial Golf
Classic in honor of National Maritime Day.
The event takes place May 18 at 1 p.m. at
Stoneybrook Golf Club in Bradenton. For
more information, contact Denise
Stufflebeam at 941-722-6621.
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Sandra Campbell, director of the U.S. Commercial
Service Clearwater, provided an update on the
United States' Free Trade Agreements with
Colombia, South Korea and Panama during the
Manatee County Port Authority Meeting April 19.
The U.S. Free Trade Agreement with South Korea
went into effect March 15, 2012. The agreement
makes nearly 80 percent of U.S. exports duty-free
and most remaining tariffs will be eliminated in 10
years.
The U.S. Free Trade Agreement with Colombia will
go into effect May 15, 2012. It will eliminate tariffs
for more than 80 percent of U.S. exports of
consumer and industrial products (excluding
Sandra Campbell
petroleum) immediately upon implementation and
Director
87 percent within five years. Nearly 100 percent of
industrial and textile goods will become duty-free
upon implementation and 89 percent of agricultural goods will also become dutyfree.
The U.S. Congress ratified a Free Trade Agreement with Panama in October 2011.
Once the agreement is fully implemented, 87 percent of U.S. exports of consumer
and industrial products to Panama will become duty-free immediately. U.S.
products that will gain immediate duty-free access include agricultural and
construction equipment, aircraft and parts, medical and scientific equipment,
environmental products, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers and agro-chemicals.
Most tariffs will drop from an average of 10-15 percent to zero and the remaining
tariffs will be phased out in the next 10 years.
Panama's strategic location as a major shipping route enhances the importance of
the free trade agreement. Approximately two-thirds of the Panama Canal's annual
transits are bound to or from U.S. ports.
The 2014 completion of the $5.25 billion Panama Canal expansion is expected to
be a catalyst for new trade lanes, serving new markets and U.S. ports throughout
the upper Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. The project essentially doubles the
canal's present capacity with the creation of two new sets of locks, enhanced
navigational features and the addition of new access channels - all to
accommodate larger post-Panamax-sized ships.
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Executive Director Connects
With Customers And
Community
In an effort to get to know the needs and
opportunities of Port Manatee and the Tampa Bay
maritime community, Executive Director Carlos
Buqueras has hit the ground running since assuming
the port's leading role January 2012.
"I look forward to leading Port Manatee to new levels
of success and I believe that building strong
relationships, both locally and internationally, is key
to selling this port," Buqueras said.
In his first four months, Buqueras has sought new
business opportunities in Latin America and Europe.
He has been to Chile and Brazil and is planning a trip
to Spain in May. He was appointed to Florida's
District Export Council by U.S. Secretary of
Commerce John E. Bryson in March and hosted
meetings with U.S. Customs and the U.S.
Commercial Service. Buqueras has also met with
Calendar
May 17
Manatee County
Port Authority Meeting
(NOTE - Time Change
to 2 p.m.)
Port Manatee
Intermodal Center
2 p.m.
May 18
Port Manatee
Propeller Club
James R. Waters
Memorial Golf Classic Stoneybrook Golf
Club
Bradenton, Noon
May 22
National Maritime Day
Wreath Laying Ceremony
Port Manatee, 10 a.m.
May 28
Memorial Day Holiday
Port offices closed
June 14
Port Manatee
Propeller Club Meeting Bradenton Yacht
Club
5:30 p.m.
June 21
Manatee County
Port Authority Meeting
Port Manatee
Intermodal Center
9 a.m.
June 25
Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning
Organization
Selby Auditorium, USF
Sarasota
9 a.m.
July 4
Independence Day
Holiday
Port offices closed
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Carlos Buqueras
Executive Director
2012 Manatee County
many others representing public and private business interests and actively
participates in the Port Manatee Propeller Club to engage the local community.
If you haven't had a chance to meet Buqueras, the Manatee County Port Authority
board meets on the third Thursday of each month, (except July) at 9 a.m. at the
Port Manatee Intermodal Center and meetings are open to the public.
Port Authority Board
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Questions? Concerns? Comments?
Please let us know. Contact Us.
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Chairman
Larry Bustle
Vice Chairman
Carol Whitmore
Second Vice Chairman
Robin DiSabatino
Third Vice Chairman
Michael Gallen
Member
John Chappie
Member
Donna Hayes
Member
Joe McClash
If you have questions, comments or
concerns, please contact us.
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300 Tampa Bay Way Palmetto, FL 34221 U.S.A.
Phone: 941-722-6621 Fax: 941-729-1463
portmanatee.com