TAMPA Despite trade declines resulting from the difficult economy, the Port of Tampa remains Florida's largest cargo port, handling more than 40 percent of maritime cargo entering the state, director Richard Wainio said Thursday.
"People equal cargo," Wainio said in his 2011 state of the port address. "As Florida returns to growth, we will soon be the third largest state in the nation and much of the growth will be in the Orlando-Tampa Bay super region."
Wainio outlined the port's key initiatives: protecting land available for maritime uses; sustaining investment capability; enhancing landside access and navigational channels; supporting regional energy needs; expanding container terminal capacity in line with demand; and pursuing marketing innovations and niche cargo opportunities, with a special eye on Cuba.
"Our current 5-year plan has programmed over $320 million in new investments," Wainio said.
Those include container terminal expansion, the Tampa Gateway Rail Project with CSX adding track along a port dock and the $40 million modernization of the port's main oil terminal, the entry for all of west central Florida's gasoline supplies.
Other promising news includes expectations of a record year in crusie line passengers, approaching 1 million passengers next year, sixth among U.S. cruise home ports.
(8130 259-7817
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