News & Updates

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (December 13, 2021) – The Florida Ports Council thanks Florida’s congressional delegation for their bipartisan support in urging President Joe Biden to encourage cargo ships to call on Florida seaports to ease supply chain congestion.

In a letter to President Biden, Florida’s congressional delegation offered to work with the Biden administration to use Florida’s ports as an alternative to the East Coast that continues to see unprecedented delays in offloading cargo, leading to severe supply chain congestion.

“As the holidays approach, American businesses and families are feeling the effects firsthand of the continued supply chain bottlenecks,” said Congressman Vern Buchanan who led a letter signed by 17 bipartisan members of the Florida congressional delegation in advocating for increased usage of Florida’s ports. “Given Florida’s unique geographic location, our 15 deepwater seaports can handle increased freight traffic and meet holiday demands for consumers around the country, and they are ready to get to work.”

According to Florida Ports Council President and CEO Michael Rubin, this leadership and bipartisan effort is further demonstration that Florida’s seaports are open for business and plays an integral role in helping right size the nation’s supply chain challenges.

“Florida’s seaports are open for business, and connecting commerce from ship to shelves,” Rubin said. “Florida’s seaports are receiving new shipping lines calling on our seaports in an effort to avoid supply chain logjams, and we’re well-positioned to double the amount of cargo containers received from four million to eight million containers annually.”

Special thanks to Congressman Buchanan for his leadership on this important issue.

IMPACT:

• 15 deep water seaports.
• Supporting 900,000 direct and indirect jobs, and
• $117.6 billion to Florida’s economy through cargo and cruise activities.
• Generating approximately 13 percent of Florida’s GDP, and
• $4.2 billion in state and local taxes.

ABOUT THE FLORIDA PORTS COUNCIL:

The Florida Ports Council (FPC), is a Florida nonprofit corporation that serves as the professional association for Florida’s fifteen public seaports and their management. FPC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the fifteen port directors with staff support located in Tallahassee. We provide leadership through a collective voice in the areas of state and federal advocacy, data and research, and marketing and communication.

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