b'18American Journal ofTransportation ajot.comFlorida Gulf Coast ports bustle with ever-diversifying activitiesBy Paul Scott Abbott, AJOTSeaportsalongFloridasproject to more than double Gulf Coast are bustling withPort Manatees dockside con-an increasingly diverse spec- taineryardto23.5acresis trumofactivities,handlingnearing completion.farmorethanburgeoningManatee Countys seaport containerized cargo volumes. hasbecomeanimporthub Fromimportsofyachtsforleadingrecreationalboat to final construction of ferryretailer MarineMax Inc. and a boats, from exports of woodcenter for recycled steel mate-pelletstoconversionofarial exports by a subsidiary of roll-on/roll-offvesselintoaPeru-based Aceros Arequipa. platformforlandingspaceAlso,theporthasextended rockets,FloridaGulfsea- its three-decades-long import portsarehostingaremark- relationshipwithDelMonte ably wide array of goings-on. Fresh Produce N.A. Inc., seen Starting near the entranceexpansionofservicesacross to Tampa Bay and progress- theGulfofMexicobyPort ing north and then westward,Manatee-basedWorldDirect heres a roundup of the latestShippingandrenewedits at Florida seaports along thefuelsreceivinganddistribu-Gulf of Mexico: tionagreementwithTrans-Montaigne Terminals LLC.P oRTM anaTee And Regional Rail LLC Enjoyingrecordcontain- has assumed operation of the erizedcargoactivityupseaport-owned Port Manatee 53.3percentinthefiscalRailroad LLC short line.yearendedSept.30,2021, comparedwiththepreced- P oRTT aMPab aying12-monthperiodPortBilledasFloridaslarg-Manateeisexpandingitsestandmostdiverseport, containeryardwhilebroad- Port Tampa Bay, like its com-ening its cargo base. Part of apetitor closer to the entrance Port Manatee berths are busy moving record cargo volumes while expansion of the seaports dockside container yard$74 million capital improve- (BUSTLEcontinued on advances toward completion. ment plan, the $13.1 millionpage 19)BBA Is a Collaborative Architecture Practice Focused on the Design of Cruise Ports andDestination [email protected]'