Port St. Pete, located on Tampa Bay, is a multi-use facility that capitalizes on its unique assets within the city of St. Petersburg. The port is located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, just a short walk from local shops, restaurants, bars, pristine parkland, and scores of galleries and museums, including the world-renowned Dali Museum. As such, the downtown waterfront area is a major strength for the City. The port features a four-acre facility with outdoor storage areas and easy access to interstates, major highways, and two international airports.
With its existing facilities and the presence of many governmental, institutional and academic agencies engaged in maritime research, Port St. Pete has both the institutional capacity and the infrastructure to fill a unique niche as an International Research Port. Working at the port is the St. Petersburg Ocean Team (SPOT), the premier consortium for marine science, oceanographic, and environmental research agencies and governmental institutions in the Southeast and one of the top such industry clusters in the nation.
Port St. Pete is also the only superyacht marina on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The city and port staff are actively engaged with yacht captains on an interpersonal level, developing connections and contacts through events, boat shows, visits, and media events. Several large yachts have benefited from the amenities and services available at the port, including M/Y Tatoosh, one of the world’s largest yachts at 302 ft with a crew of 30. This large yacht opportunity for the port has evolved with the proliferation of large yacht construction throughout the world.
The port recently completed a $5 million wharf renovation that installed six power pedestals to meet the electrical needs of these large vessels. The power configurations now available at the port include 480v, 3-phase, and 600 amp service, as well as a variety of other electrical configurations including 220v and 208v service.
Goals & Objectives
- Manage, maintain, and provide a secure and accessible Port in St. Petersburg that strengthens economic development and waterborne commerce through collaborative efforts focused on transportation, marine science, and leisure travel.
- In realizing this goal, the port aims to be profitable, sustainable, and environmentally conscious.
Current or Planned Investments
- PORT MASTER PLAN
- NEW TERMINAL BUILDING
- PARKING STRUCTURE
Accomplishments
- New lease of port building to University of South Florida (USF) St. Petersburg
- New Lease of a 32,000 sq ft building to St Pete Innovation District and the Technology and Logistics HUB
- Recipient of Federal Rescue Dollar grant through FDOT of approx. $800,000
Hinterland
Port users would come from other parts of Florida and from around the world as the port focuses on marine science/research facilities, research vessels and other types of vessels including large yachts.
Mission
To provide safe, clean, attractive commercial port facilities for use by the shipping industry and general public, and to provide research and development capability, thereby increasing economic development opportunities throughout the City of St. Petersburg, the greater Tampa Bay area, and West Central Florida by creating new high-paying maritime jobs in our community, while attracting tourism and other maritime industries to our region.