Port Manatee, located in Tampa, Florida, was recently awarded a federal security grant worth $946,950 in order to double the number of outbound lanes at its main gate to securely facilitate increasing cargo volumes at the port.
Within the first 10 months of the fiscal year, the port’s container volume is up by approximately 47 percent while the amount of gasoline and other fuels being trucked out of the port has seen a similar rise.
“With Port Manatee’s dynamic growth in containerized cargo activity, having more lanes in place is essential to continuing to meet stringent federal requirements for screening of outbound containers,” Carlos Buqueras, executive director of the port, said.
Made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant Program, the funding will be matched by the port with a 25 percent cost share of $236,737.50.
“In addition to facilitating the outbound lane expansion, the funding allows Port Manatee to enhance its contingent of screening equipment, modernize its main gate intercom system and update credential readers,” David St. Pierre, director of seaport security, said. “These enhancements are all crucial to Port Manatee’s appropriate clearance of shipments, including those moving on an expedited basis under the federal Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism homeland security program.”
Generating more than $2.3 billion in annual economic impact, Port Manatee is the closest U.S.-based deepwater seaport to the expanded Panama Canal serving a variety of container, bulk, breakbulk, heavy lift, project, and general cargo clientele.