News & Updates
President’s Message: November 2021
By Michael Rubin, President and CEO
With cargo ships backed up like a parking lot and waiting to make deliveries at congested seaports like those off the coast of California, Governor Ron DeSantis is urging shipping lines to help break the supply chain crisis by calling on Florida seaports.
“Our ports operate 24/7. We’re here. We have capacity,” Gov. DeSantis said during a press conference with seaport leaders. “We want to be sure that Americans get the goods they need, particularly as we approach the Christmas season.”
Strong investments by Governor DeSantis and the Florida Department of Transportation have well-positioned Florida’s 15 seaports to receive more cargo ships, and help get more supplies to America’s market.
“Year after year we continue to invest in our seaports, in infrastructure and in workforce education to make sure our supply chain is resilient,” Gov. DeSantis said. “I’m especially proud of Florida’s seaports. They are the crown jewels in our state.”
The Florida Ports Council, along with this strong pitch from Governor DeSantis is proving successful.
“We’re seeing larger ships, more ships and more cargo. There is more cargo coming to Florida and Port Everglades,” Florida Ports Council Chair and Port Everglades Port Director Jonathan Daniels told Fox Business News. Shipping lines like Hapag Lloyd AG have announced they are working to adapt to market needs while optimizing its service portfolio, and is rerouting a European-U.S. container service to JAXPORT.
Calling on Florida seaports will not only help ease the supply chain crisis, it will also bring more work and jobs to Florida’s logistics industry – an industry that never stopped working during the disruptions of the pandemic. And as the nation faces rampant inflation and businesses stare down unprecedented supply chain problems, Florida’s port capacity and efficiency creates the perfect scenario for the Sunshine State to be the pier to the world.
Many Florida seaports are offering incentives to companies that choose to bring their business to our state, which will free up backlogs in other states while also ensuring Americans are able to receive the goods they order faster.
“The Governor has displayed tremendous leadership in continuing to recognize the value our seaports provide in meeting the mission of safely moving goods throughout the region,” Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault, P.E. said. “The partnership we have with our deepwater seaports uniquely positions Florida to be that much needed destination to get goods to market and overcome the delays seen at other location.”
As the cargo shipping logjam lingers on, we will continue our efforts to promote Florida’s seaports as a key solution to breaking the supply chain crisis.