News & Updates
President’s Message: October 2021
By Michael Rubin, President and CEO
Florida is where your success comes in, and our seaports are well positioned to help break the gridlock plaguing West Coast ports as well as the Port of Savannah on the East Coast.
Florida is connecting commerce and getting containers filled with products that Americans use or consume daily, and that’s the message we’ve been sharing with FOX News, FOX News Ingraham Angle, The Maritime Executive, Tampa Bay Times, Florida Politics, First Coast News, WFTS Tampa Bay, WPLG Local 10, News 4 Jax, FOX 13 News, DredgeWire, Bay News 9, and more.
Global suppliers of sneakers, furniture, toilet paper, sporting goods, toys, artificial Christmas trees and more, are literally stuck off the coast of California, waiting days and weeks to offload their cargo. As a result, many store shelves are bare, prices are on the rise, the federal government is lowering economic growth expectations for the fourth quarter, and many Americans fear they soon won’t have access to essential products or Christmas gifts for loved ones.
Yet in Florida, thanks to Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault, Florida has invested in its infrastructure and connectivity, and is poised to receive more cargo ships and help get more supplies to America’s market.
“I’m proud of the seaports we have in Florida, and we want to ensure we help the supply chain. Florida ports are open for business,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.
And while prices are rising for West Coast ports of call, shipping lines and manufacturing industries can save time and money by calling on Florida ports. Why pay to moor off the coast of California, when Florida shipping lanes are open and serving as the gateway for getting goods to store shelves?
Our competitive efforts to secure additional cargo ships calling on Florida ports is paying off. Hapag Lloyd AG is rerouting a European-U.S. container service to JAXPORT to “optimize our service portfolio, stabilize schedules and adapt to market needs,” Hapag Lloyd explained. Rerouted ships are calling on Port Everglades, and PortMiami is reporting higher cargo volumes, but is not experiencing gridlock.
“Florida is 15 ports strong, willing to take on any level of competition, and allow consumers in Florida and the U.S. to see what efficiency looks like – an integrated system meshing ports, highway and rail. We’re open for business 24/7,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive & Port Director Jonathan Daniels, who also serves as the Florida Ports Council Chair.
Florida is open for business, and we look forward to continue promoting Florida’s seaports as a solution to resolving the supply chain crisis.